Balancing family and work is a challenge many of us face, especially in the empty nest stage of life. How do you carve out time for your God-given passions while ensuring your family’s needs are met? In today’s episode of the Authentic Online Marketing podcast, Ruthie Gray and her insightful retreat staff discuss these questions.

Resources

Sign up for the Next Steps Retreat

Listen to Ep. 95: Faith-Fueled Leadership: Empowering Christian Women in Business and Social Media

Listen to Episode 94: Ep. 94: Empty Nest Case Studies: Finding New Purpose in the Digital Age

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The Next Steps Retreat: A Path to Clarity and Achievement

For those of you who find yourself juggling family commitments with entrepreneurial desires, our Next Steps Retreat in the serene mountains of West Virginia is designed to provide clarity and support. Many empty nest entrepreneurs struggle with prioritizing tasks—every task feels urgent, yet not every task is critical. Through this retreat, you’ll learn to set a hundred-day goal while surrounded by a supportive community ready to help you sift through what’s truly important.

Balancing Family and Work Goals

In today’s episode, we bring you insights from Pat, Brenda, Suzanne, and Cathy on finding balance. Kathy emphasizes setting boundaries to preserve creative endeavors, like her newsletter day, while Pat talks about intentionality over balance, reminding us that while family matters, boundaries are key. Brenda shares an innovative approach involving a shared, color-coded Google Calendar with her husband, harmonizing personal and business time. Meanwhile, Suzanne discusses the potential need to shift priorities when family health needs arise.

Insights on Balancing Family and Work from Inspirational Women

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• Cathy: Writes a newsletter weekly, prioritizing her creative time despite family demands.
  
  
• Pat: Advocates intention over perfect balance, setting clear work boundaries to enjoy precious family moments.
  
  
• Brenda: Utilizes a shared Google Calendar for clarity and shared family accountability, combining fun personal projects with business goals.
  
  
• Suzanne: Manages active involvement in her grandchildren’s lives while preparing for possible care duties for her in-laws.
  

Ruthie’s Own Journey and Transition

Personally, my journey continues with writing a book proposal and launching a new website, ruthiegray.com, both ventures that resonate deeply with my passion to minister to moms. As I pivot better to serve this community, I’m propelled by a desire to support women in managing validation from relationships and establishing healthy boundaries.

Three Takeaways to Balancing Family and Work

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2. Communicate Clearly: Convey your priorities to your family to manage expectations and ensure you carve out the necessary time for your work and passions.
   
   
3. Color-code Your Schedule: Like Brenda, use tools such as a shared Google Calendar to harmonize personal and professional commitments.
   
   
4. Redefine Balance: Take Pat’s advice—not every part of your life will be balanced at all times, but being intentional can lead to more fulfilling achievements.
   

Continuous Support and Growth Opportunities

Our conversations stress the importance of community and shared experiences, underscoring the benefit of retreats like our Next Steps Retreat. If you’re interested in joining a network that will support you in achieving your next big goals, visit ruthiegray.com/retreat for more information.

Thank you for joining us for this insightful discussion. Until next time, continue sharing your message in your authentic voice.

The post Ep. 116: Balancing Family and Work as an Empty Nest Entrepreneur appeared first on Authentic Online Marketing.