How to Balance Work and Life This Summer as an Entrepreneur (It Won’t Be Perfect)

Summer time as an entrepreneur can be unpredictable, to say the least! For me, summer means balancing two businesses (this one and my NEW mobile book business, What Sara Reads) while juggling sports and playdates for both of my sons. Plus, I like to spend quality time with my husband over our summertime wedding anniversary, too!

When I say that summer can feel like a dumpster fire at times, trust me: I know what it’s like to imitate a circus act and try to suspend ball after ball in the air like a never-ending magic trick.

The idea of a “perfect” summer as an entrepreneur? Well, it just doesn’t exist.

BUT, that doesn’t mean it’s impossible to find joy and balance as an entrepreneur who’s living and working in the busyness of summer.

In today’s post, I’m sharing a few go-to tips to make summer work for my life and my businesses.

How to Make Summer Work for Your Business and Your Life

I hope that sharing my “system” of sorts helps you make the most of the weeks we’ve got left before back to school!

1) Set Expectations with Your Family and Your Clients

Every summer, my husband and I—who both work from home—sit down with our sons (who are 12 and 9 this summer), and we set expectations for the months to come. Given their current ages, our children are relatively independent, so we don’t send them to childcare during the summer. Instead, because my schedule is the most flexible, I work when they’re busy with activities, are playing outside with friends, or are sleeping in. 😴

In order for my husband and I to work effectively in the summer, we share a few ground rules with the kids, like:

• Get dressed, eat breakfast, brush your teeth, and comb your hair every day
• No playdates at our house on Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday (our busiest days at work)
• Lunch and dinner at home every day
• Clean up after yourselves, and clean your bedroom weekly

While our kids grumble and groan when we remind them of these rules, it makes it so much easier for us not to lose our minds as parents who also need to work!

2) Focus on What Needs to Get Done, and Leave the Rest

Early in the summer, work tends to slow down for my husband, who works in IT. But when the new fiscal year begins for his corporate job in mid-summer, there’s always a meaningful uptick in the number of calls and commitments on his work calendar.

Similarly, with the launch of What Sara Reads this summer, I’ve been spending time hosting pop-up shops around Sioux Falls, which has meant finding other times in my day to serve my copywriting clients.

This summer, that looks like working more in the evenings than I typically do during the school year, simply because that’s when I have the time. It’s different from my regular rhythms, but I’ve given myself permission to work when I can, especially while my sons are busy with friends or are at hockey practice. When I am working in the evenings, I only do what NEEDS to be done, not the nice-to-do tasks. Those can wait!

Remember to focus on what needs to get done and leave the rest. Allow the stack of dishes to creep higher in the sink, give yourself grace when emails aren’t answered right away, and let it go when the laundry piles up. It’s okay for these things to happen for a short season!

3) Outsource What You Can

You knew I was going to mention outsourcing, right?! 😉

I’m always asking myself, “What can I take off my plate so that I can be a more present mama and wife AND so that I can spend time in my business doing what I’m good at?”

This summer, I’ve asked for a lot of help at home and at work. My parents and my mother-in-law help care for the boys and staff the book trailer with me at pop-up events. We also have neighbors who help us transport the boys to hockey practice and who host our children for playdates when we’re working.

Work-wise, I’ve been exploring outsourcing opportunities for my own business (namely brand photography and social media!). I’m also focusing my energy on refining my own website copy, creating blog content, and serving my email list. This helps me deepen my relationships with my warmest leads and continue building my friendship with Google!

If you need more support with running your business this summer, I’d love to help you!

Curious which one of my offers is right for you? Take a peek below:

One of my favorite ways to work with photography clients is through my monthly retainer relationships. This summer, I’ve created custom, done-for-you blog posts and marketing emails for my clients, so that they can take vacations, serve more clients behind the camera, care for their littles at home, or a mix of all three! Learn more about retainer services here.

Some of my other photography clients are finding that summer is a slower (and hotter!) season with fewer photo sessions on the books. If this is you, perhaps you have extra time on your hands to learn how to level up your website copy yourself. Consider enrolling in my DIY website copywriting course for photographers, Words That Click.

Finally, if you want more support and accountability to actually get things done, my group coaching program, Storysale, may be just the right fit for you. Storysale is perfect for established photographers and creatives who’ve been in business for 2+ years and who want the support that comes with a done-WITH-you relationship.

Storysale combines weekly group coaching calls with SEVEN HOURS of 1:1 Intensives with me to overhaul your website copy and SEO, blog, email list, and social media. Hop on the waitlist today!