4 Habits of a Mildly Successful Small Business Mum
4 Habits of a Mildly Successful Small Business Mum
I’m writing this as I return to my business after a two-year hiatus following the birth of my second child. Coming back hasn’t felt like starting over, exactly—but it has felt like a re‑centring. A quiet recalibration of how I want work to fit into my life now.
Success looks different in this season. Slower. Softer. More intentional. I use the phrase mildly successful with affection, because it allows space for ambition without burnout, and growth without losing myself in the process.
Here are four habits that are helping me ease back into work, rebuild momentum, and run a small business alongside motherhood in a way that feels sustainable.
1. I Think in Seasons, Not Balance
I’ve long let go of the idea of perfect work–life balance. Instead, I think in seasons.
Some weeks are fuller—focused on orders, planning, or creative work. Others are quieter, shaped by family life, school runs, or simply the need to rest. After stepping away for two years, I’m more aware than ever that energy ebbs and flows.
Allowing my business to expand and contract with life has made returning feel possible, rather than overwhelming. This isn’t a setback—it’s a rhythm.
2. I Move My Body to Take Care of My Mind
Returning to work after a long break has reminded me how closely my mental clarity is tied to movement.
This isn’t about productivity hacks or rigid routines. It’s about walking, stretching, getting outside—doing something physical that clears my head before I sit down to think or create.
When I move my body, I’m calmer, more focused, and far less likely to spiral into comparison or self-doubt. Caring for my mind has become a non‑negotiable part of running my business well.
3. I Plan Weekly, Not Daily
Daily to‑do lists used to leave me feeling constantly behind. Now, I plan weekly instead.
A weekly list gives me flexibility. It allows for days that don’t go to plan—because with children, many don’t—while still keeping me moving forward.
This way of working feels especially important as I return after time away. Progress doesn’t have to be fast to be real. A gentle, realistic plan is far more effective than an overambitious one.
4. I Let the Business Fit Around Life
Smith & Co. Goods has grown alongside motherhood, not in spite of it. After two years focused primarily on my family, I’m now shaping the business around the life I actually have.
That means boundaries. It means fewer expectations. It means building something that supports our days, rather than competes with them.
A business that fits around real life is one that can last.
A Quiet Return
Coming back to work after a long pause has reminded me that success doesn’t need to be loud to be meaningful. It can be steady. It can be gentle. It can grow slowly.
For now, mild success looks like re-centring—finding my footing again, caring for myself as well as my work, and building momentum in a way that feels honest and sustainable.
And if you’re returning too—whether to work, to creativity, or simply to yourself—I hope this season feels kind, spacious, and quietly encouraging.