Why Back-to-School Feels So Overwhelming for Small Biz Owners:

Today, I had to cancel a call with my coaching manager so I could go pick my daughter up from school. And honestly? That moment is what inspired me to write this blog.

School is starting again, work is picking up, and it’s hectic. In the past, this was the point in the year when I’d tell myself, I just have to push harder, do more, keep all the plates spinning. But the truth? I can’t. I just can’t. And neither can you.

So instead of running myself into the ground, I’ve learned how to navigate this season with more clarity, more intention, and way less guilt. Because this time comes around every year, and you don’t need to pretend like it doesn’t. 

Today, I’m sharing my top three tips for surviving—and actually thriving—during back-to-school chaos as both a parent and a business owner.

1. Back-to-School Mindset: Why Alignment Beats Balance

I’m just gonna say it: “balance” is a lie in seasons like this. Balance says every area of your life should get the same amount of time and energy every day. And that’s impossible.

What I want you to focus on instead is alignment. And alignment means your time, money, and energy are going toward what matters most right now. When you align, your schedule starts to reflect your values—not just your to-do list.

Some weeks, you’re all in at the business because a big project’s launching. Other weeks, you’re front row at the school assembly, phone off, fully present. Alignment says, This is what matters most right now, and I’m giving it my best energy.

💡 You can’t add more hours to the day, but you can decide where your best energy goes.

2. Small Biz Budget Systems That Reduce Back-to-School Stress

Right now, you’ve got a thousand mental tabs open—client work, school drop-offs, staff issues, the soccer schedule, what’s for dinner… and oh yeah, did that invoice get paid?

Your financial system(s) should close that tab for you. When you know your personal and business budgets (what’s coming in, what’s going out, your non-negotiables, your operating expenses, etc) you stop waking up at 3 a.m. wondering if you can afford the babysitter or if that big business expense will tank your revenue.

It’s taken care of. You know the numbers. And that frees up your headspace to focus on what you actually need to be thinking about—serving your clients, leading your team, showing up for your family.

When you know and trust your numbers, you can also budget for help without guilt. That means booking the babysitter so you can focus during work hours, or outsourcing bookkeeping so you can focus on sales, or paying for grocery delivery so you can skip the store and get one more hour with your kids. That’s not “extra spending”—that’s a strategic move because you’ve already accounted for it.

📌 This is the exact work I do in coaching with small businesses—building you a financial system that runs in the background so you can breathe again. Let’s Talk.

3. Delegation: Budget for Your Sanity

I know you. You want to delegate, but you feel bad spending money on it. That’s why the numbers matter, because when you see it’s in the budget, you stop second-guessing yourself.

Delegation it about protecting your time, energy, and focus for the things only you can do. For some clients, the first step is often childcare. Once that’s locked in, they can show up for their business without constant interruption. For others, it’s food delivery; so they can take that last-minute client meeting and know everyone will still get fed (including them!)

Then we build from there: maybe it’s a few hours of admin help in your business, maybe it’s a cleaning service at home. Every single thing you take off your plate gives you more space to do what you do best and to actually rest so you can keep doing it.

You can’t add more hours to the day, but you can align your time with your values, lock in a financial system that clears mental space, and delegate with confidence—knowing your numbers support you.