5 Little Things That Keep Me Sane (and Happy) as a Mom & Business Owner
As a mom and a business owner, I often find it hard to find out space or time just for me. Don’t get me wrong, being a mom is one of my greatest joys and biggest accomplishments. Honestly, I would trade any luxurious lifestyle just to be home with my kids and watch them grow. But that doesn’t mean I don’t sometimes feel the need to step away and have a moment to myself.
That’s when photography came into my life. It gave me a way to reconnect, with myself, with the present moment, with the little things I love to notice. It felt like my own personal therapy. I would spend quiet, mindful time with my thoughts while capturing life in its purest form.
But everything shifted when photography became my business. I still love it deeply and treasure every session, but it’s different now. There's no room for mistakes, and it's no longer just about me and my camera. Now it’s marketing, networking, client communication, continued learning, it's a full and beautiful hustle.
So I realized I needed something else just for me again. Something simple, grounding, and joyful. Here are five things I do that help me find balance and joy in the midst of a busy mom-and-business-owner life:
1. Mindful Coffee (or Tea) Time
Yes, I spend time with my coffee, because really, who can have a happy morning without it, right? I don’t get to do this every day, but when I can, I wake up before anyone else in the house, make my coffee, and sit in silence. No phone, no noise, just me and my cup.
For about ten minutes, I practice being fully present. I breathe deeply and focus on the warmth of the cup in my hands, the smell, the taste, the way it feels in my mouth. It’s like a little meditation, a moment where I’m not a mom or a business owner, I’m just a woman enjoying her coffee. And that simple pause really sets the tone for my day.
2. Reading—My Way
I love reading. I always have. But ever since becoming a mom, I’ve found every excuse in the book for why I don’t have time to read. I used to be the kind of person who had to finish one book before starting another, super strict about it. Not anymore.
Now, I just grab whatever book is nearby, yes, a real book, because I love the smell and feel of paper, set a little time aside, and read whatever I feel like in that moment. Am I reading five books at once? Absolutely. Do I finish most of them? Honestly, no. But you know what? I enjoy it. It’s my time, my moment to disconnect, and I’ve learned that it doesn’t matter if I finish or not. What matters is that I made space for something I love.
3. Walks With My Dogs (That Are Really for Me)
Okay, hear me out on this one. I spend a lot of time with my dogs, but when winter hits? Nope. I’m done. I’m not going out in the freezing cold just so these two creatures can get their walk. I know, selfish thought, right?
But one day I saw a TikTok of this happy dog riding in a car, head out the window, loving life. The caption said, “Your dog only knows what you show him.” And wow, that hit me. They really are 100% dependent on what I decide to give them. So I made myself a promise: I’d take them on 20-minute walks to different parks at least three times a week, more in the summer.
And guess who’s loving it the most? Yep, me. It became my quiet time. Just me, the birds, the breeze in the trees, and the sound of their little paws on the trail. Honestly, what else could I ask for? Sometimes we think we’re doing something for others, but it turns out, we’re the ones who needed it all along. Just like motherhood, stepping away for a bit doesn’t mean we love them less. It just means we’re recharging so we can show up better.
4. Word Search (Yes, Really!)
Okay, I know, this might make me sound like an old lady, but I genuinely love doing word searches. They’re fun! And honestly, anything that helps your mind stay in the moment is a win. It doesn’t have to be crosswords. It could be coloring, writing, building something with Legos, whatever helps you feel grounded.
For me, this is a little ritual I try to do before picking up the kids. Because let’s be real, once they’re in the car, it’s full speed ahead with soccer, dance, dinner, and everything in between. But these 10–15 minutes I carve out for myself help me reset. It brings my mind back from the chaos and reminds me that I’m a person too, not just a mom or a business owner.
5. Learning Something New
As a self-taught photographer, I can honestly say that learning at my own pace has been one of the best things I’ve ever done. I was never the “school type”, math? No thanks. Homework? Ugh. And don’t even get me started on being told, “You’ve got five more minutes to finish before we move on!” If I found something boring or pointless, I wasn’t having it.
But when it comes to something I actually enjoy, it’s a completely different story. I can set my own timer, pause whenever I need to, and take my time. Whether it’s learning something new for photography, diving into psychology (which I love), or exploring something totally random like animal behavior, I make sure to find time to learn. It’s a little “me time” that keeps my brain sharp and reminds me that growth doesn’t stop just because life gets busy.
So whatever you do to find your “me time,” just make sure you actually find it. Not just for yourself, but for the people around you too, because when we take care of ourselves, we show up better for everyone else.
