"Drop the 'do-it-all' mentality. Seek support, prioritize self-care. Nobody has it all together, despite social media."
Do you know any moms who run their own business or have a side hustle? They can seem like SuperMoms, but privately they struggle with overwhelm and burnout, and this can lead to costly mistakes in their business, and stress in their close relationships.
They’re considering giving up on their dream because they feel like there just aren’t enough hours in a day to run a business and a family.
The truth is, a successful SuperMom needs a SuperSystem to keep it all together. And that’s what Jill Wright helps her client create. She is a time management strategist who knows how to create systems for SuperMoms that support them in their business and in their family.
Jill helps her clients take ownership of their time, and make it all work so that they don’t have to work so hard. Her SuperMom clients end up not only with a better running business, but also time for family, self-care and even REST!
Jill is an author, speaker, and host of the Grow Like a Mother podcast, and you can find her on Instagram or Facebook @growlikeamother. Her book Happy Healthy Wealthy and Wise is available anywhere books are sold. Tune in to the Grow Like a Mother podcast for weekly doses of wisdom and inspiration.
Name: Jill Wright
Company: Grow Like a Mother Podcast
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Table of Contents
Before we begin, please introduce our viewership to who Jill Wright is.
Jill Wright: I’m a time management strategist who knows how to create systems for SuperMoms that support them in their business and their family. Helping women to take ownership of their time and make it all work so that they don’t have to work so hard and continue the burnout cycle.
I’m passionate about helping my clients, and all women, not only end up with a better-running business but also time for self-care, family, and most importantly, REST.
In addition, I’m the host of the Grow Like a Mother podcast and author of the Happy Healthy Wealthy and Wise: a daily companion guide for ordinary people who want to live extraordinary lives.
You are the Host of the “Grow Like a Mother Podcast” and a passionate advocate for parental wellness. What inspired you to specialize in parenting wellness, and what common struggles do you feel are facing contemporary parents?
Jill Wright: Several years ago, I was raising two kids under 3, one with special needs, struggling with post-partum depression and anxiety, and trying to run a retail brick-and-mortar store during the pandemic.
I realized I couldn’t change my external circumstances, so I set out to change my internal landscape. I dove into personal development, productivity, and time management to help me manage the chaos.
I realized that time management for working moms needs to look a lot different than it does for unmarried men, the wealthy, and non-parents. You can’t just type “Time Management for Moms” into a search engine and expect the AI-generated results to be personalized to you.
I set out to empower moms to pursue their growth journey alongside their motherhood journey and teach them how to show up as the best version of themselves in both those roles. To help moms re-align with themselves outside of their role of “mom”.
The biggest struggle I see with my clients is not knowing how to manage all of their obligations and responsibilities, personal goals and ambitions alongside the mental load that comes with parenting.
Another common issue is that many women have settled into life as they think they “should” have but are realizing that they feel unfulfilled. They aren’t in alignment with their truest selves, and they have dreams in their heart that they want to explore, but don’t know how to do that within the confines of motherhood and/or marriage.
What is the key for parents who want to establish a healthy balance between their own self-care and the rigorous demands of parenting? In the contemporary, digital age, do you feel this is more challenging than previous generations?
Jill Wright: The key is to remember who you are outside of your role as a parent. For you to show up as the parent you want to be, you first need to be the version of YOU that you want to be. You need to set aside time and space to be able to reconnect with yourself, see what energizes and ignites you, and understand what triggers and drains you.
Each person and situation is different, and people should have different time management and self-care strategies. The place to start is to get quiet, start to ask the questions and listen for your intuition to give you the answers.
In the digital age, we tend to pick up our phones to scroll or zone out in front of the TV when we have some time to ourselves. We call that “self-care” but what we need to do is take an honest look and ask ourselves if that truly is adding value, energy, or passion to our lives. Or are we numbing? Is it an intentional time to decompress, or is it simply a habit we have fallen into?
I recommend that my clients make a list of things that “fill their cup” and keep it handy so that when they do find themselves with an hour at the end of the night, they have some options to choose from. Maybe it truly is watching another re-run of Friends that lights them up.
But perhaps they will instead get inspired to call a friend, read a book, have a bath, or reconnect with their spouse. When we give ourselves options, we can be intentional about our choices, and therefore create the life we want.
You focus on Time Management for busy SuperMoms who want to optimize their lives. Explain the significance of Time Management.
Jill Wright: I’ll tell you a secret, it’s not actually about time… it’s about SPACE. Time management is a tool we use to help us create mental space so that we are better able to deal with everything life throws at us AND do the things we want to do as well.
When you get back the feeling of control over your time, you free up mental space. You’re no longer spending energy worrying about all the things you need to do, and you suddenly have some space to breathe, rest, and refocus. That’s what combats overwhelm the fastest – it’s not about creating time; it’s about creating space. And time management helps us do that.
When I’m working with clients, I create a personalized time management system that allows them to live in a spacious vibe, allowing all the good stuff in, not just the obligations and busyness. I like to say, “Spend 2 hours in a session with me and get 7 hours back each week for YOU.”
Your Podcast speaks on a wide range of topics including Self-Care, Time Management, and the Science of Goal Achievement. What role does mindfulness play in effective parenting? What would change within our world if parents integrated mindfulness?
Jill Wright: The biggest thing about being mindful when we are parenting is that the kids notice! When you are present and intentional in your behaviour, you are modeling mindfulness for your kids. They learn by watching you and how you move through the world.
When we are being mindful, we can show our kids how to slow down and make decisions and choices. We can teach them how to be present in conversation, listen to their bodies, and feel their emotions.
When you show up intentionally and are present, it causes a ripple effect in your homes, your schools, and your communities because you are teaching those skills to your children, who go forth in their lives and show their peers how to also move through the world with mindfulness.
Parenting often involves managing stress and overcoming obstacles. Can you share some practical tips or coping mechanisms for parents to navigate challenging situations effectively?
Jill Wright: Asking for help is the single best thing we can do as parents. They say it takes a village to raise a child, and I think it also takes a village to raise a mother. Our lives are full of stress and obstacles not only in our parenting journey but in all facets of our lives, careers, and relationships.
It’s unrealistic, and unhealthy, to expect yourself to be able to “do it all”. Lean into the support of others and if you need to, let a few things go. Let yourself off the hook – no one is doing it all, despite what your social media feed is telling you.
You might also need to bring in reinforcements! Get outside support, because if you’re struggling and your current coping mechanisms aren’t working, you need to try a different approach. Start to get more information, read books, or find an expert to follow online who is talking about this in a way that resonates with you. Invest some time, money, and energy into fixing this issue for yourself before it turns into a crisis.
Through your coaching, podcast, and other platforms, how do you envision impacting the field of parenting?
Jill Wright: My goal is for moms everywhere to reconnect with themselves and put themselves back in the driver’s seat of their lives. When mothers are living their purpose and showing up as the happiest, best version of themselves we change the world, starting right here in our homes.
I want to empower women to claim that truth and start to create a life they love because in doing so they set an example for their kids, their family, their friends, and their communities.
When we live authentically, we break the power of “should”, comparison, and guilt. We show our kids that they can show up safely and successfully as who they are and that empowers future generations to actively create the life they want.
If our viewership would like to connect with you, what is the easiest way for them to do so?
Jill Wright: My website https://www.jillwright.ca has all of the information on how to work with me, as well as some free resources to get started on your own.
I am also active on Facebook and Instagram @growlikeamother, and my podcast, Grow Like a Mother, is available wherever you listen to podcasts, and also on YouTube!
Brooke Young, VIP Contributor to WellnessVoice and the host of this interview would like to thank Jill Wright for taking the time to do this interview and share her knowledge and experience with our readers.
If you would like to get in touch with Jill Wright or her company, you can do it through her – Linkedin Page
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