The Balancing Act: Juggling Life as a Small Business Owner, Mom, Daughter, Partner, and Full-Time Employee

As a small business owner, there’s no denying the pride and joy that comes with building something from the ground up. But when you add being a mom, daughter, partner, and working full-time into the mix, it can feel like you’re juggling an endless number of responsibilities—all while trying to take care of your physical and mental health. Sound familiar?

Wearing Many Hats Every day, I wear many hats: entrepreneur, customer success manager, mom, partner, and more. Running Kailan Home Essentials, my home decor business, requires an immense amount of attention. From managing orders and crafting products to marketing and handling customer inquiries, the list never seems to end. But entrepreneurship isn’t my only full-time job—I’m also raising children, caring for family members, nurturing relationships, and showing up every day at my 9-to-5.

The Emotional Toll One of the biggest challenges is feeling like there’s never enough time to give 100% to each area of my life. There are moments when I feel like I’m stretched too thin, trying to be everything to everyone. Guilt can creep in when I’m working late on an order instead of spending quality time with my family, or when I need to rest but feel the pressure to push through.

It’s easy to let self-care fall by the wayside. Between work meetings, fulfilling orders, and taking care of the home, squeezing in time for myself feels like a luxury I can’t always afford.

Prioritizing Mental and Physical Health But I’ve learned (and am still learning) that taking care of myself is not a luxury—it’s essential. Without a clear mind and a healthy body, it’s impossible to sustain everything else. I’ve started carving out time for small moments of self-care, whether it’s a morning walk, journaling, or simply sitting quietly with a cup of tea. The mental load of managing a business and a household is heavy, and I’ve found that asking for help—whether from family, friends, or professional support—goes a long way.

Setting Boundaries One key lesson has been learning to set boundaries. It's tempting to stay up late working on orders, answering emails, or trying to squeeze in more tasks, but that often leads to burnout. I’ve had to create hard stops to protect my energy and mental space. Setting aside dedicated time for family and for myself, no matter how small, has become non-negotiable.

Finding Balance (or at Least, Something Like It) The truth is, balance doesn’t mean giving every part of my life equal attention at all times. Some days, my business takes the front seat; other days, it’s my family or my full-time job. There are days when I feel like I’ve got everything under control and others when it feels like nothing’s going right. And that’s okay.

At the end of the day, I remind myself why I started Kailan Home Essentials in the first place—to create something meaningful, to inspire others, and to set an example for my children. It’s not easy, but it’s worth it.

For anyone else out there juggling multiple roles, remember this: You don’t have to be perfect, and you don’t have to do it alone. Find your rhythm, ask for help, and take care of yourself along the way.