Hi friends !

Being a mama is hard, can I get an amen? Being a mama that runs her own business is hard, can I get another amen? And being a mama that runs her own business from home, well that has its own unique set of challenges, although the blessings do far outweigh them.

Luma, a surround WiFi system for your home, got me thinking of some typical productivity zappers that I find with running a business and how I overcome them so I wanted to share them for y’all!

Luma, is quite possibly the coolest concept that not only delivers reliable and quick WiFi, but it also safeguards your home and your network.

So what are some challenges that I typically meet while working from home?

• A sweet little baby girl who wants me to play Ice Cream Shop with her
• A sweet little baby girl who wants me to read “all the books” to her as soon as I try to open my computer
• Laundry
• Housework
• Social Media
• Dreadfully slow and sometimes non-existent WiFi, compliments of our new rental we recently moved to
• Etc.
• Blah, blah, blah

To be totally transparent, I’m still in the thick of trying to figure out how to successfully run a home-based business while also being an intentional and present wife and mama.

We recently moved to College Station, as most of you know! We decided not to rush into buying another home, and we knew temporarily renting would be the best fit for us. We also were excited that our rental offered free internet and cable, which would allow even more monthly savings for a new home. However, the service that we do get is unreliable, so this has been a struggle because like clockwork it decides to cut-out right when nap time starts.

Enter Luma, y’all.

Atleast for the unreliable WiFi that is. Unfortunately, only I can discipline myself to stay focused long enough to finish a task at hand.

Here’s how I keep myself (read: attempt to keep myself, but more often than not fail) focused!

• Take a deep breath! The past several days I (and my site designer, Hi Katie!) have been working so hard behind the scenes updating and refreshing the entire site
• Make myself finish one task at a time. My mind goes so fast with all that needs to be done, that I often start a gallery or a blog post, then think of something else to do. It’s very common for me to have 12 windows open at a time on my screen!
  • However, the past couple days I fight that urge to move to something else, and just. finish. what. I. start.
• I ask for help.
  • Pray for focus!
  • When the husband gets home in the evenings, after we eat, I try and squeeze in 45 minutes of intentional work (not every night) while he plays with Kerrington. So that when she goes to bed, we can spend time together.
  • Y’all, my mom has already moved to College Station. Bless her. I’m already getting spoiled knowing Gigi can come over during the day to help keep Kerrington occupied if I need a couple hours of uninterrupted time to work. We’ve lived 4 hours apart for 8 years, minus the week she’s been here.
• Business hours and boundaries. This was monumental for me when I started implementing this. I don’t answer emails or “work” after certain hours. That time is sacred to me that I can spend with my sweet family.
• Give myself time challenges to finish certain tasks. I give myself 1 hour, or by “3pm” to finish uploading a gallery, or writing a blog post.

Lastly, I would love to implement this final tip in the near future:

• Designated work/studio space. Prayerfully in our next home there will be a designated office space to house Tamara Menges Designs. I am also hoping for a some sort of separate studio space where I can do our floral work. Whether that’s a sunroom like in our previous home, or a separate building on our property.

I love the freedom that comes with owning my own business, and I am forever grateful I have the love and support of my sweet husband. I’m grateful for the freedom of being able to be at home with Kerrington, but still being able to contribute to our family income.

Now it’s your turn! Do you own your own business and run it from home? I’d love to know how you stay focused during the day! And if you need WiFi help, don’t forget to check out Luma!

xoxo, Tamara