Dear SmallBizLady,

I am a Mompreneur working around the clock in my business and I feel like I am getting nowhere fast.  Can you help me?

Many of us running our small businesses are working hard, real hard. We are doing more with less and trying to figure out how to get it done smarter, cheaper and faster each day.  I ask, how long can you run at this pace?

If you have a family on top of your work responsibilities, it’s even tougher. You get to bed and wake up tired most days. My six-year-old son participates in swimming, little league and piano, and I run like the wind with my demanding profession as a small business expert on top of my mom duties.  It’s hard to feel like you are not in a race every day. There are two critical things that have helped me get my one-woman circus under control.  First, I do not believe in never ending to do lists. That always leads to feelings of overwhelm and guilt.  Who needs that? I focus on getting 5 things done before 11am each day. Second, every 90 days I take at least a 48-hour break from everything. You need rest to focus.  It’s May, have you scheduled a vacation yet?

Thomas Edison, best know as the inventor of the electric light bulb, used to take mini-retreats to read, meditate, and enjoy solitude. He considered it a strategic advantage in his business. What was the last thing you read that had nothing to do with work?  One of the perks of working hard is supposed to be that you can enjoy the fruits of your labor.  Think about the things you used to do when you had more time: fishing, gardening, hiking, golfing, jewelry making, etc. Make time to get back to doing a hobby you enjoy.

Do not get swallowed up in your work. Focus on getting more rest! It pays major dividends.

What are you going to do to get more rest?

For more tips on how start or grow your small business subscribe to Melinda Emerson’s blog http://www.succeedasyourownboss.com.