Working as Entrepreneurs from home sounds like a dream – no commute, cosy clothes, coffee always at arm’s reach. But the reality? It’s a delicate dance between productivity, distraction and keeping your life from being swallowed up by your to-do list.
In my latest video series of interviews with incredible women entrepreneurs – Angela Neufeld, Emry Kettle, Fallon Brice, Anita Larsen and Olena Soldano – we dove into how they’re navigating the very real challenges of work-life-balance. Here’s what they shared about structure, working with tech tools and what “actually” keeps them grounded.
STRUCTURING THEIR DAY ON THEIR TERMS
Forget the 5am hustle. These women are intentionally “not” jumping out of bed into a frenzy….
Fallon Brice, a virtual assistant and mom of young kids, designs her day around her children’s needs. She gets up early but doesn’t jump into deep work – she eases into the morning, focusing on clients needs in bursts, with flexibility as her anchor.
Anita Larsen chooses to start her day slow, checking email and reviewing her calendar before diving in. A Mom of a busy teenager so handling mornings can be a little chaotic, instead she builds momentum throughout the day.
THE POWER OF TIME BLOCKING & COLOR CODING.
These entrepreneurs know that working from home can lead to blurred lines – so they build “structure.”
Anita Larsen, swears by her color-coded calendar blocks and devotes Monday afternoons to admin tasks and weekly planning. She treats her calendar like a contract: “I live and die by it,” she says. She has developed a cool strategy and blocks off time every Friday for a co-working session with fellow entrepreneurs. It’s her personal strategy for getting big projects done with accountability.
Angela Neufeld sets clear intentions and boundaries for her time. She knows the difference between “busy” and “productive.” and she’s not afraid to say “no” to distractions as you’ll hear her say this is actually the BIGGEST CHALLENGE for all entrepreneurs!
TECH TOOLS THAT HELP KEEP THEM GROUNDED
(AND SANE.)
Each of these 5 entrepreneurs mention the tools that keep their home-based businesses running smoothly – and their brains less frazzled.
CHATGPT: comes up agin and again – as their “companion.” Whether they’re brainstorming copy, outlining campaigns, or proofreafing newsletters, they’re using AI as a sounding board that keeps their ideas sharp and their work moving. Emry has even given her a name, “Dear Marigold” and she is her best buddy in helping her getting things done with her ADHD.
NOTION: Anita and Emry use Notion for tracking, As Emry says, “All Roads lead to NOTION.”
CALENDLY: is another favorite used by all. Olena integrates her digital tools with her coaching practice, using them not just for productivity, but also to create “presence” with her clients.
THE “REAL” CHALLENGES THEY FACE VERY DAY
Let’s be honest – working from home comes with “real” challenges and each one shares how they handle them in their videos….
- Anita handles teenagers interrupting during zoom calls
- Emry handles the mental pull of household chores.
- Olena handles overwhelm from juggling client work and working in peak energy zones.
- Fallon handles focusing on revenue-generating tasks versus doing too much busywork.
- Angela handles staying healthy while growing a thriving business.
But here’s what you’ll learn from listening to each one of them share these challenges: They are learning how to move THROUGH these challenges with intention and grace.
HOW THEY STAY BALANCED!
From morning routines, to working with their challenges and loving what they do, here are a few takeaways I loved:
- Co-working Fridays – Anita’s strategy to create built-in accountability. “Having someone alongside yo, even virtually, pushes you to finish.”
- Planning with Purpose – Angela does quarterly check-ins and builds plans that are flexible but focused. She works from her very exciting Vision Board.
- Physical Environment that supports productivity – Fallon talks about her desgnated workspace to signal “I’m working now” so her family knows when mom is working.
- Finding your Peak Energy Zones – Olen matches her energy with her productivity: by aligning the type of work she does with the energy she has.
- Beach Walks, Journaling and movement – All of them share how essential it is to disconnect and step into nature to recharge and refocus.
YOU DON’T NEED BALANCE – YOU NEED RHYTHM
What struck me most in these conversations is that none of these women are trying to create a “perfect” balance. Instead, they’re finding a rhythm that fits their lives, their values, and their energy. They give themselves grace when life gets messy, and they build structures that support – not suffocate – their goals.
If you work from home what’s one thing that helps you stay grounded?
Comment below, I’d love to hear.
And watch all of these full interviews on my youtube series,
“Entrepreneurs who work from home!”
