I’m not going to lie — it’s difficult juggling a career as an artist and creative with a busy home life. In the beginning, it seemed like I didn’t even have a minute to sit down and breathe. But over the years, I’ve learned how to find a better balance between the two. What does it take to become a mumpreneur?

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For all the mums out there who are struggling to make their entrepreneurial dreams come true at the same time as raising a family, here are a few of my tips to help you find your balance.

1. Get Organised

The times when I feel most stressed are when I’m rushing to get things done at the last minute. All of this can be avoided by making a plan ahead of time. Plot out your calendar so you know what is coming in both your job and family life. Put everything in your diary (maybe you use your phone or an app), and check it first thing in the morning to see what is coming up that day and later in the week.

Have great people work with you: this can be on a regular or freelance basis. Get used to delegating tasks so that you can concentrate on what you cannot delegate, which for me is creating new paintings and products. Delegate the admin and marketing as much as you can; I now have a sales manager in Singapore and a marketing manager in Hong Kong. We communicate daily and have a longer Skype call at some point during the week to discuss what’s happening and what’s next. My studio time has to be worked into the week otherwise no new work can be created if I’m just always answering emails.

2. Prioritise

A life coach gave me this tip – make a list of three achievable things to do per day. Sort out, from your list of 20, the three tasks which will move you forward and give you a sense of achievement, or at least stop that nagging feeling. They may not be your favourite things to do but they probably are the most necessary.

Focus and do those three things on that day. They may be phone calls or negotiating with suppliers or clearing the bill payments; once done, it will free you to do other tasks without worrying about those three things you have been putting off. It creates a healthier mindset.

3. Find The Right Schedule

Allocate set times for work and stick to them. For example, I work between 9am and 3pm every day when the kids are at school, and then when they get home I have time to spend with them without worrying about work. Occasionally, I can have a longer workday when my husband can help with the school pickup. I know other busy mums who work in the evenings when their young children are in bed. Do whatever works best for you, but try to stick to the time slot as a routine, as work-life balance is so important.

At one point, when things were very busy, I got into the habit of working from midnight till 4am on emails and writing articles, which I wasn’t able to do during the day. I could sustain it for a while but long term it can be a disaster, as sleep deprivation is not good for motherhood or creativity. The business was going through a period of growth and I had a solo show coming up, and my husband was travelling all the time. Now I try and buy in extra help during busy times.

4. Include Your Kids And Partner In Your Business

Instead of slogging along solo, why not invite your family to help out with your business? They will probably be happy to help you out and be a part of the creative process. For example, for my exhibition at The American Club, my son Teddy made a great YouTube video, which I used to promote the event. This summer, when I was exhibiting in Venice, all the kids had tasks on opening night, for example, my daughter took lots of photos of the exhibition and it really made them feel important and useful. Plus, it was just really fun doing something together as a family. They had watched me create the paintings in Singapore, and loved being in Italy with me to see the paintings exhibited and meet other artists.

5. Focus On The Positives

Running a business on your own is no easy task: you have to wear a lot of hats and it can be very easy to get frustrated and hung-up on the negatives. However, stressing over every little thing will only make things worse. Try to focus on the positives, such as how far you have come already and how much strength and courage you have to do what you do. Give yourself daily reminders about what you are grateful for in your life. I attend networking and social events with other entrepreneurs, and I find that we often face exactly the same challenges even if our businesses are different; so it’s great to meet up and exchange stories.

6. Schedule A ‘Me’ Day

When you’re a mum and an entrepreneur, it may seem like you can’t even take one hour off, let alone an entire day. But taking a break every now and then is vitally important to your health and well-being. After all, how productive and nurturing can you be when you’re entirely burnt out? Make it a habit to schedule in one day just for you every few weeks or month when you can go out for a glass of wine with the girls, take in a show, or simply set out on a long walk in the fresh air and sunshine. I find most of my best ideas come to me when I remove myself from the business and give myself time to reflect. I also try to include a short meditation in my day, even if it’s just five minutes; if done regularly, it really helps one feel more centred, calm and in control.

Do things you love on your days off and holidays – I love to travel and this always gives me new food for ideas; I travel with a small sketchbook so I can make some quick sketches, which I can use back in the studio later on.