How to Survive Summer and Keep Your Business Afloat

Another school year has come and gone. Summer break is just days away. But if you’re a parentpreneur like me, you can’t just pour yourself a margarita and hit the pool. Nope! Life is about to get extra busy thanks to our sweet kiddos and there’s no doubt you already know – working from home during the summer with little humans running around is no joke!

Last summer, I was so stressed. I had a lot of work projects in progress and I was in the weeds on client work. I was also trying to be present at home. Juggling it all was hard and it did not feel good in my soul. This summer, I’m on top of my game and that’s why I’m sharing my tips for how to prepare for summer, enjoy family time, and still kick butt as a boss.

Grab Your Calendar and Plan it Out

You might remember my previous blog about maximizing your time when the kids head back to school in the fall. This is similar because it all starts with a plan!

Grab your calendar and map out these next 3 months. 

Step one: schedule the big things that set your soul on fire: birthdays, vacations, holidays, etc. 

Step two: pencil in kids’ activities: dance, softball, soccer, vacation bible school, all of that good stuff. 

Step three: write down your partner’s work schedule. I keep track of my husband’s work trips so I know when I’ll be solo-parenting.

Step four: sync your personal calendar with your business schedule (more on how to take advantage of automation later).

Don’t forget to sign up for your school or community playground program or day camp. That’s a fun and safe way to keep the kids busy while you squeeze in a couple hours of work.

I’m fortunate to have my sweet in-laws close by to babysit and spend time with my son and daughter while I tackle my tasks. They are just amazing and it’s because of their love and help over the years that I’ve been able to scale my business and have dedicated work time. 

So that’s the first part: planning your calendar and making space for all the fun memories. The kids aren’t going to remember you launching a big project. They WILL remember how they feel and the special memories of a trip to the beach or pool days with the grandparents.

Take a big, deep breath, because YOU GOT THIS.

Set Clear Boundaries

Establishing boundaries between work and family time is crucial, especially during the summer when the lines can easily blur. 

Designate specific work hours and communicate them with your clients or team. Let your family know when you’ll be fully present with them and honor those commitments. This clarity will reduce stress and allow you to focus on each aspect of your life without feeling torn.

Streamline Your Processes

Efficiency is key when you’re juggling business and family responsibilities. Take some time to review your workflows and identify areas where you can streamline processes. 

Automate repetitive tasks, delegate when possible, and leverage technology to work smarter, not harder. I recommend using Raney Day Connect, our all-in-one marketing tool. It allows me to use a calendar booking feature where I can block out designated family time, self-care time, and work hours. Then, when a potential client goes to schedule an appointment with me, only my available time slots will appear.

Isn’t automation amazing? By maximizing your productivity, you’ll free up more time to spend with your loved ones. And if you read through this section and need help setting up a calendar, just reach out! Set up a call (you know, during a time that’s not blocked out) and I would love to help you.

It’s also important to have a system in place for automated away messages that remind potential clients of your summer business hours and how to get in touch with other members of your team.

Don’t be Afraid to Delegate

My marketing company, Raney Day Design, has been in the game for 13 years and I’ve built an incredible team that I trust to take on all the tasks. If you’re a solo entrepreneur and you’re trying to slow down or back off during the summer, you’ve gotta delegate, my friend! 

I’m going to say this as gently as possible: you’re in the way. Get out of the way! When we jump in and save the day for our team when they’ve hit roadblocks, we think we’re being helpful, but we’re actually depriving them from being able to take ownership and be the hero!

You don’t have to do it all yourself. Delegate tasks within your business to trusted team members or consider outsourcing certain responsibilities. Whether it’s administrative tasks, marketing efforts, or customer service, there are professionals who can help lighten your workload. By offloading some of your responsibilities, you’ll have more time to focus on what truly matters to you.

Stress Test: Take a Day Off

So how do we let go of micromanaging our team? A great way to stress test your business is to take a day off and see what happens!

Give your employees a heads-up and add an out-of-office auto-response to your email that alerts when you’ll be out and when you’re returning.

Just take a day off. See what happens, whether there are some breakdowns in the system (or full-on dumpster fires). Remove yourself from the equation because I promise you this: the work will still be there when you get back. The clients will be there. The products will be there. The tasks will be there when you return. 

Prioritize Your Relationships 

We only have 18 summers together with our kids before they’re off to college. I never want to look back and regret the time that I did not play with my children. 

You know how it is, right? We’re super ambitious, always chasing after our goals and dreams. It’s like we’re on a mission to grow and conquer everything in our path. But sometimes we get so caught up in that hustle that we forget about the other important stuff.

I’m talking about our relationships—the ones with our partner or significant other, the people we share our home and lives with. They deserve more than just leftover crumbs of our time and attention.

So, here’s the deal: we need to shift our focus. Make those relationships our top priority, and view everything else as just tools to support that abundant life we’re striving for. It’s about remembering that our loved ones come first, and everything else falls into place when we prioritize them.

When I talk about letting go, it’s my way of reminding myself that work will still be there waiting for me. Even when I’m knee-deep in a project and all I want to do is finish it, I have to pause and take care of myself and my home first. Because when I do that, everything else just seems to fall into place.

Treat Yo Self!

Prioritize Self-Care. It’s SO important. As parents and entrepreneurs, we often put our own needs last on the list. But, prioritizing self-care is essential for maintaining balance and preventing burnout. 

Make time for activities that recharge your batteries, whether it’s exercise, meditation, hobbies, or simply enjoying quality time with your family. 

Remember, you can’t pour from an empty cup, so invest in yourself to be the best parent and business owner you can be.