Self Neglect | Moving on up with Business Mamas

Self Neglect, Inspiration, Agent Mystery Case, Neglect,

Self Neglect | When the most neglected room in your

 

When I take on something new, it generally means I need to give up or neglect something to squeeze it in these days. This usually sees me putting myself last and neglecting an aspect or area in my home. Generally it’s sleep or exercise for me and turning a blind eye to my OCD approach on the home front.

 

This week, I’m sharing my pear shaped start to my online business diploma and why this course through Business Mamas is going to help me find the right balance and be the perfect way forward. Finally doing away with the self neglect but in a way that will continue to allow me to put my family first and hopefully do away with anything or anyone (that is important) looking or feeling neglected.

 

Do you struggle with finding the perfect work life balance? What’s the first thing to go when you are time poor?  

 

A rougher than rough start

 

I must confess, you can easily tell the state of my mind and how I’m coping to stress by the state of my house and in particular my office. I’ve always been this way.

 

At the moment my office is looking pretty spick and span but it’s purely on the surface and for show. You only need to dig a little deeper, open a normally organised draw to find the unorganised chaos that is lurking below the surface to appreciate I’ve had a less than ideal month.

 

Almost a month into my business diploma course with Business Mamas and I’m ashamed to say, it was a less than ideal start from my end. The minute I started, all aspects of my life took a hit and things went downhill quickly. Apart from my normal workload, the blog was down for the count (blogged here), I had emergency temp work on the go and my family were all dropping like flies with the flu.

 

It meant that I didn’t manage the suggested 10 hours study per week in my first week. Not even close and the hours I did manage, involved technical difficulties my end, which resulted in me having to almost restart the course. Probably a good thing because I honestly wasn’t in the right head space to begin with. I was feeling like a failure in the first five minutes and this had me questioning just about everything, including my business plan and way forward.

 

My usual course of action when things go pear shaped and I need to fit more in, is to roll up my sleeves and put the anger and frustration to good use. I’m not normally one to give up easily or go without a fight but I do tend to give up exercise and sleep to fit more in. Lately though, I’m finding that doesn’t really help the creative juices or my health and I’m determined to do things differently from here on in.

 

businessmamassuccess

 

 

Business Mamas help when you need it most

 

It’s been years since I officially studied, so I envisaged bad weeks. I didn’t imagine my first bad week would be my actual first week. What a way to throw a spanner in the works which had me questioning what I was doing studying in the first place.

 

If I’m honest, it was all driven by fear. Fear of the unknown. Fear of failure. I’m not convinced I was looking for ways out but I certainly thought about quitting before I’d even started and all the curve balls thrown at me that first week didn’t help matters. Having a mentor that has been there and done that, who can encourage and advise you is important. I can see why Business Mamas refer to their mentors as angels.

 

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Thankfully, my mentor at Business Mamas is only an email or phone call away and knows what it is like as a mother, wearing a number of hats at the one time. Our regular power chats each fortnight provide me with the feedback I need for the work I’ve already submitted and are a great form of encouragement, especially when you find you are doubting yourself or having a bad week.

 

 

Powering ahead

 

It’s all full steam ahead now and I’m loving the course. The interesting thing about the first module (Go Mama), which I’m now in the process of completing the assessment side of things, is that it has me profiling myself. I’m analysing what makes me tick, my learning style and how I best cope with stress. It obviously goes further than that but for me, it’s those elements that are really helping me ease back into the study after more than a decade (or two) break.

 

The first module is arming me with the skills, knowledge and techniques I will need to make the entire course and my online business a success. My hopes and dreams for my future are coming to life, built on solid and workable foundations. I can already see myself becoming a more rounded and grounded person as a result.

 

After my abysmal start, where I basically had to go back and start again, I managed to fit almost 25 hours in the second week. It meant the blog wasn’t getting the attention it deserved but in the scheme of things I found this a better way forward. One that didn’t require me existing on 2 hours sleep a night and forgoing my daily walk or neglecting my family who have been on school holidays the past fortnight

 

Once school holidays is over (tomorrow), I’m hoping that I might fall into more of a regular study timetable but I love that the Business Mamas course and your approach to it, is fairly flexible. It means when life throws you curve balls, or you find a rare opportunity where hubby can take leave at short notice during the school holidays and you want to put life on hold to escape for a few days, you can. It also means when you have the time and find yourself in the right head space you can power ahead.

 

Regrets?

 

My only regret, so far, is that I should have started sooner. I’ve spent far too much time trying to be everything to everyone and not focusing on my own happiness which is why the Business Mamas approach to life, business and study resonate with me so much…

 

Live happy, work happy and be happy!

 

If you are thinking about starting a new business or taking your business to the next level, I wouldn’t wait for the right sign or moment, it might never come or you may be too busy heading in the wrong direction to notice.

 

Take control and take that first step by getting in touch with Business Mamas to start a conversation about your business dreams and what you want your future to look like.

 

businessmamasyear

 

Do you struggle with finding the perfect work life balance?

What’s the first thing to go when you are time poor? 

What’s the most neglected room in your house at the moment?

 

Business Mamas is an accredited online business school designed to help you launch your new business. Whether it be launching a micro business for extra cash or starting the next big business sensation, it’s all about you and your goals! I’m proud to be a Business Mamas’ Ambassador and will be blogging about the highs and lows of my business diploma studies over the next 12 months. If you have any questions… just ask.

About Mystery Case 462 Articles
Follow Raychael aka Mystery Case on her mystery adventures 'casing' people, products and places to bring you her worth casing favourites.

40 Comments

  1. Once school goes back, you will find it easier – I think it’s hard to give yourself the time you need when all the family is around (it shouldn’t be, men do it all the time without a second thought but we create unnecessary guilt and tasks).
    Good for you! It will be great!

    • I hope so. My girls are super easy and pretty much fend for themselves these days but they are still underfoot more than normal in the school holidays which does have an impact on my approach to things.

  2. Work life balance is such a myth! Some weeks you have it, other weeks its out the window. The first thing to go when I’m too busy is the housework, because it’s my least favourite task. Maybe one day I will love ironing…

  3. I can’t believe Your bad luck with the blog falling over as soon as you start your course! The business diploma sounds fantastic though and I love the idea of an angel at the end of the phone to guide you. Can’t wait to hear more about it.
    Oh and I’m guilty of a but of self neglect too, but I’m prioritising me this week x

  4. Good on you for working through that first horror week. I’ve got the study bug too, now that I’m nearly finished my copywriting course. It’s been an eye opener and I’m so grateful that I enrolled. Tomorrow I head to Sydney for a one day professional business writing course which will hopefully set up my new business on the right track. Keep looking after yourself my friend x

    • I’m also looking at writing courses as well. Just not right at the moment. The writing for the web course I completed just after starting the blog was a real eye opener.

  5. I fully identify with all those feelings. My life was super duper crazy last year while I did my Cert 4 in Small Business Management but I knew it would be useful and help me find that elusive work/life balance. It has definitely helped me so much in my business!

  6. Two hours sleep?! How are you still walking around??!! I haven’t even figured out what I want to do when I grow up let alone achieved work/life balance. Sigh. Glad it’s all falling into place and you’re finding your groove. Sounds like a great opportunity for you. xo

    • I average around 4 to 5 hours most nights. I can only exist on 2 hours for a few nights in a row and then I’m no good to anyone, especially myself. With my health issues, I really need to get on top of the sleep side of things.

  7. Ahhh you’ve got your mojo back! The worst starts can lead to the biggest successes! I wish you all the success – the course sounds great!

    • Week by week is certainly the best way to approach this. Some weeks are better than others and each week is a step closer to the finish line.

  8. The house work is always the first to suffer. I usually just do the basics. My bathroom and toilet is suffering at the moment. have to put it on the to do list tomorrow. Having a list keeps me on track and helps with the feeling of achievement.

    • My to do list, now that school is back and I have the house to myself is looking massive. It might be time to outsource.

  9. Oh my – how I relate to this one. I started blogging late last year and here I am today with no sleep, no movement and feeling like crap. But loving blogging and wanting to learn so much more, but between work, kids, The Milko and life – I come in dead set last. I know what I need to do. Just gotta practice it and stop thinking about all the fear and failure. Thanks for sharing this one. Mel xx #IMustConfess

  10. in an ideal world all should be balanced raych!
    well reality takes over and then the overwhelm!
    step back, take stock! … and it sounds like that is what you are doing!
    always there is a compromise, when one is pushed beyond expectations! …or time poor!
    I know my limitations and I work with them!
    I’m not good with pressure! … I run to my cave with glee! and bury my head! not helpful! however it’s how I regain my balance again!
    oh well I’ve come thus far hun! … choosing simple now! love m:)X

  11. I am thinking I have some sort of balance at the moment but just like you said there are a few things that I have had to let go of. I find if I have a clear head I get so much more done so packing up the laptop and paperwork when it isn’t “that”time helps, a lot. I really like the sound of Business Mamas.

    • Business Mamas really popped up at the right time for me. It’s just what I need to help me find focus and a better way forward, not just for the business but all aspects of my life.

  12. I can relate to this on a number of levels – things I wish I’d done sooner but didn’t. And stuff I’ve not yet started but should.

    It annoys me that desire doesn’t always translate into motivation or commitment!

    • Can’t wait to see the cases. I love old leather suitcases. My WW post is now up. I’ve been a tad distracted and behind schedule this week.

  13. I’m so happy for you that you got over that little hurdle and improved yourself. These things are huge risks aren’t they, but what would happen if we didn’t take risks? Nothing! It’s also great that you have a mentor. When I first started my business back in 2012 I had a mentor and although she’s not with me anymore, she was the one thing that supported me. If I didn’t have her, I reckon I would have given up.

    In terms of work life balance, it’s up and down for me and it’s a lot harder balancing everything working from home. What I have learnt to do more is to say no, to make sure that my day off (Friday) is my day off and I’ve also hired a cleaner which means that my Friday and weekends are time for me and my family.

    The first thing to go when I’m time poor is my health. I have a very bad habit of not eating properly (or at all for that matter) and then when I do, I eat crap.

    The most neglected room in my house is the one I’m sitting in at the moment…my office/junk room. It’s the bits and pieces room and it’s never tidy. Thank goodness our renovations are finished and I will be in my new office next week!

  14. Work/life balance…what’s that? I think we’re all guilty-to some extent- of lack of self care…& it’s usually the support structures we need the most that are the first to slip. Like exercise. I know I think more creatively with it, and deal with stress more effectively with it, yet those morning training sessions are so often neglected in favour of catching up on writing before leaving for work. Heavy sighs. Love how Business Mamas popped up at the right time for you.

  15. Getting back into study after a long time is hard. Even the year off between school and uni was enough time for my study brain to disappear. I’m completing a blog course at the moment which I’m loving, but struggling to adjust to! Good luck Rach, I’m sure you’ll find a balance.

    • Which blog course did you end up going with Em? It’s all the online research these days which wasn’t around in the dark ages. It does make life easier but there is so much more at your finger tips it can be over inspiring and hard to know where to draw the line.

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