Any mom, working or not, will tell you that there are some times where we have to turn to positive affirmations to make it through a busy day. Personally, some days I feel like I’ve conquered the world by meeting a work deadline, doing the dishes and the laundry, successfully completing a call with a client without my 9-month-old son melting down in the background, and squeezing in a quick trip to the grocery store for the milk I forgot.
On the other hand, there are plenty of times where I collapse at the end of the day in exhaustion, only half-dressed, my son in tears and in his fourth outfit of the day, with only a paragraph of writing completed and Chinese takeout on the counter for dinner (again). When those kinds of days rear their heads — and as a work-at-home mom, it happens more than I’d like to admit — I have to remind myself that tomorrow is another chance to thrive instead of just survive.
Since so many moms can relate to the push and pull of productivity, I reached out to some work-at-home moms and mom entrepreneurs to find out their best mantra for getting through a busy day of juggling parenthood and a career. Some are personal mottos and some are quotes from inspiring entrepreneurs, but they’re all great places to start when your day isn’t going how you'd hoped.
"To Commit Oneself To Too Many Projects...Is To Succumb."
"I have a hard time saying 'no,' which can lead to some pretty hectic days. I have to remind myself that my mental health is just as important as my time, and when I realize there aren't enough hours in the day to fulfill my commitments, I remember what Thomas Merton said: 'To allow oneself to be carried away by a multitude of conflicting concerns, to surrender to too many demands, to commit oneself to too many projects, to want to help everyone in everything, is to succumb to the violence of our times.'" —Beth Demmon, journalist and freelance writer at BethDemmon.com
"Do What You Can, With What You Have, Where You Are."
"My mantra is a Theodore Roosevelt quote. This is embarrassing to admit, but I saw it on a poster in a bathroom once and it really resonated with me!" —Emily F. Popek, owner of Bread and Roses Vintage
"Don't Compare Your First Chapter To Someone's Last."
"It's so easy to look at larger, thriving brands and think, 'Why not me?' You have to switch your way of thinking. How about, 'I can't wait until that's me'?" —Taylor Wilkinson, founder of Taylor Wilkinson Designs
"It's OK To Say No."
"It’s a priority for me to still be present and energetic for my kids, especially while they are still so young. Motherhood has forced me to be more organized, efficient, and plan ahead whenever possible. I’ve learned to let the little things go because I simply don’t have the time or energy for it — and really, it’s probably not worth it anyways." —Irene Lee, founder/Creative Director of Bash + Sass
“Stop, Listen, And Really Feel What Is Going On Around You.”
"For me it's not really a mantra, but I think as a mom and entrepreneur, letting go of the 'I can do it all' mentality is key, because at the end of the day you can’t and shouldn’t. It's not healthy for you, your family, or your business. Some days your business will need more of your time and some days your family will. When I repeat this mantra, it forces me to refocus and prioritize what's important and what needs to be done." —Tran Wills, co-founder of BASE COAT Nail Salon
“We Are Here To Fall So We Can Rise.”
"When I face a tough day, I believe there is opportunity in every challenge, gratitude in every setback." —Candis Jones, founder of The Jones Market
