The summer holidays often bring a different rhythm for business owners with children. You are still supporting clients and keeping your business running, but you are also managing childcare, days out, meals, activities and the occasional cry of, “I’m bored!”
If your working hours have reduced or your usual routine has disappeared, you are far from the only one. Some jobs will have been completed later than planned. Others might still be sitting on your to-do list, waiting for September.
As the new school term approaches, now is a good time to think about what you want your working week to look like once the children return to school.
Why September feels like a fresh start
September often feels like a second January for small business owners. School routines return, diaries become more predictable and there is a renewed sense of focus after the summer.
You might be looking forward to getting back to full-time hours, reconnecting with clients or progressing ideas you put on hold. You might also be looking at a long list of unfinished jobs and wondering where to begin.
The temptation is to wait until the first day of term and then try to tackle everything at once. This often leads to a busy first week filled with emails, admin and smaller tasks, while the work that brings income or moves your business forward gets pushed aside again.
A little planning now will make your return to work feel more manageable.
Start planning before the school gates reopen
You do not need a complicated business plan. Set aside half an hour and review what needs your attention.
Start by looking at:
- Outstanding work from the summer
- Client deadlines coming up in September and October
- Emails or enquiries that need a response
- Regular marketing that has slowed down
- Website information that needs updating
- Invoices, documents or records waiting to be completed
- Projects you want to start before the end of the year
Once you have everything in one place, divide the list into three sections: urgent, important and suitable to delegate.
Be realistic about what you will achieve during your first week back. Filling every available hour will leave no space for client requests, meetings or unexpected work. Choose a small number of priorities and schedule the rest across the month.
You do not need to catch up with everything at once
When your usual routine returns, it is easy to put pressure on yourself to make up for lost time. You might plan a full month of social media posts, clear your inbox, update your website and contact every client, all while completing your paid work.
That approach often creates more stress than progress.
Your time and attention have limits. If you spend your first few days dealing with low-level admin, you have less time for the work that needs your experience, judgement and personal input.
Decide which tasks need you and which ones simply need completing. This is where delegation starts to make a difference.
What would free up your time?
A virtual assistant supports you with the tasks that keep your business organised and visible. Instead of spending an afternoon formatting a document or scheduling posts, you can focus on clients, sales and business development.
I support small business owners with tasks such as:
- Creating and scheduling social media content
- Managing routine emails and following up enquiries
- Writing and formatting newsletters
- Updating website pages and blog posts
- Carrying out online research
- Producing documents, spreadsheets and presentations
- Organising files and business information
- Completing day-to-day administration
For example, you might send me the information for your September newsletter and ask me to write, format and schedule it. Or you might give me a list of website changes, customer emails and social media ideas that have built up over the summer.
I work through the agreed tasks while you concentrate on the areas of your business where you add the most value.
Flexible support without employing someone
Working with a virtual assistant gives you support without taking on a permanent member of staff. You choose the tasks you want help with and the amount of time that suits your business.
You might need a few hours to clear a backlog before September. You might prefer regular support each month to keep your marketing and administration on track. Your requirements can change as your workload changes.
This flexibility works well for business owners who need dependable support but are not ready to recruit an employee.
Make September easier now
The return to school should give you more time to focus on your business. It should not mean spending the first few weeks buried under everything that accumulated during the holidays.
Review your workload now. Choose your priorities. Then decide what you can hand over.
If you would like support with your September workload or the months ahead, get in touch with me. We can discuss what is taking up your time and identify the tasks I can manage for you.