Ashwini Sarabhai
The last few years have seen many new home makers turning into home bakers and doing a marvellous job! Earning a living for themselves not only makes them financially independent but also serves as a confidence booster.
Fresh home-baked cakes have surely been a cherry on the top for so many! But as a woman home maker turns into a commercial home baker, the lady has so many aspects she needs to look at every day. Home, family, kids, business and so much more! It is a well-known fact that women carry out most of the domestic chores at home and we find them relentlessly working towards the same day in and out. As women home bakers, they find themselves torn between their responsibilities towards the house and their business. In many cases, I’ve seen them lose their mojo and unfortunately give up on the business.
One of the hardest parts of running a home business is separating your work from your family and social life.
Being a homemaker and a home baker myself, I have gone through the same and understood the problems faced by these women. Here are some proven ways I’ve been following to keep my life at home smooth as well as keep my business on track.
Create a work schedule and stick with it: One of the benefits of working from your home is that you are free to plan your work time the way you want. Whether you are an early bird or a night owl, you can choose to work at your convenient time depending on your daily commitments towards your family. Create a schedule or a timetable that has slots for business and home separately. I like to work during the daytime, take a break by late afternoon when the kids are at home from school, and work again in the evening only if required.
Once you create this pattern, be sure to follow it as strictly as possible. Even though family comes first, stay true to your business hours and resist the urge to chat with friends or pick up groceries during working hours. Unscheduled work time can often overlap with your free time until you don’t have any free time at all. Hence make the plan!
Home Office: If possible, try to separate your “home office” from the rest of your home. Just a partition, a dedicated room, or a corner will also help. This way your baking tools and ingredients will not be mixed with your regular kitchen tools making it easier to manage your business inventory and accounts as well. This also serves as a visual cue to the family that you’re working and should not be disturbed unless urgent.
Involve your family and kids in what you do: Do not hesitate to take help from your family. Involve them in some aspects of your business and home chores. This way work turns into fun, full of learning for the kids and your family also realizes the efforts and seriousness you are putting in towards your home and business.
Leave personal calls for after-hours: Make your work timings clear to friends and family and stick to them. Take personal calls, invitations to chat, or socialise only after business hours.
Learn to say NO: Take on only as much as you can manage. Learn to say no to an incoming business if you feel you do not have the time and won’t be able to do full justice to it. Do not worry about losing your client. They will surely understand and not want a half-baked cake for the lack of time. They will return to you for another occasion later.
REST!!: Be sure to take some time off to rest and energise yourself. While multitasking with home and business, rest is an essential aspect. It will help you to keep your mind calm and body energised. It also helps refocus and retrospect.
Track your expenses: Keep your house and business finances separate. This way you will know how much profit you are actually making in your business. It is definitely a confidence booster!
When you feel like you just can’t stand any more pressure, remember how diamonds are created!! So put on your gloves, turn on your ovens and bake away to fulfill your dreams!!
Ashwini Sarabhai is Founder/ CEO, The Dream Cakes
