Planning Beyond Your Business

This post is going to be less about business mechanics and more about straight talk, because planning isn’t just about spreadsheets and strategy. It’s about how you manage life alongside your work.

As sole proprietors, we juggle multiple tasks in the office and at home — and that balancing act becomes even trickier when your workspace is your home. Whether you’re a parent, a pet owner, or living solo, working from home requires both discipline and a plan.

Business Planning Lessons from 2020

I learned this lesson the hard way when I went into business for myself in 2020 — a year when the world flipped upside down. My children had remote learning, and I was building my business.

I had my business plan laid out and thought I’d covered all the angles. Or so I thought 🤦🏽. What I didn’t factor in? My children being home all day, every day. Not only did I have the usual “mommy duties,” but I also had to supervise remote learning for my then four-year-old. That oversight almost broke me and made me question whether I had made the right choice in entrepreneurship.

Hard Truth #1: You Can’t Do It All in 24 Hours

It’s impossible to do everything in one day and keep your sanity. So please, don’t beat yourself up if you fall asleep with dishes in the sink 🤷🏽‍♀.

Be realistic about what can actually fit into your day and stick to it. For example, laundry, deep cleaning, and grocery shopping cannot all be done in one swoop while working remotely — especially if you’re doing it all alone. Spread big tasks out across the week, dedicate time for each, and commit to only that task.

When it doesn’t go as planned? Leave some things for the weekend — and if you’re a parent, involve your kids. You might be surprised at how much they love helping once you let them.

Hard Truth #2: The Unexpected Will Happen

As long as you’re alive, life will throw curveballs. The key is to be mentally flexible enough so when your day doesn’t go as planned, the whole thing doesn’t unravel.

Here’s a scenario:

• Your client moves a meeting up.

• You finally secured a long-awaited pediatric appointment that now clashes.

• Your child’s school drops a mandatory online evaluation into the same block.

• A project deadline moves up.

• And just for fun — your laptop takes an orange juice bath.

(Yes, you officially have permission to cry 😭.)

But here’s how I’d handle it:

1. Pause. Go to the bathroom, breathe, splash water on my face, and ground myself.

2. Message clients: reschedule due to an urgent situation (never overshare).

3. Request a short extension on the project deadline.

4. Call the doctor’s office, explain you’ll be late, and make sure your appointment is still held.

5. Google “orange juice on laptop” (trust me, fixes exist).

6. Complete the evaluation, then head to the appointment.

7. Call it a day — because keeping it together deserves a full stop.

Flexibility doesn’t mean chaos. It means having Plans A, B, C… and the openness to improvise with Plan D.

My Grounding Practices

Adjusting takes focus, self-compassion, and grounding. For me, meditation is a daily recharge, usually at night after my youngest goes to bed.

When planning your business, remember: drafting the business plan is only half the work. Personally and professionally, you need backup plans and the mental space to bend without breaking.

My days are never perfect — sometimes I adjust, sometimes I stumble — but I always remind myself: life will happen. And as a business owner, I can’t afford to be derailed every single time it does.

My Day in a Nutshell

Personal Checklist

• Spread major tasks across the week

• Set daily priorities and stick to them

• Stay flexible, always have a backup plan

• Ground yourself with breath, meditation, or reflection

• Involve family where you can — teamwork matters

Here is my general personal Check List!

My day in a nutshell!

Daily Mantra“Find those in-between moments to just smile. No matter how hard life gets, I am still here — and that means there is work to be done, goals to achieve, and memories to be made.” — S.A. Brewster

(This keeps me going!)

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