How to Switch Off When You’re Both CEO and Mum

Running a business while raising children means your brain is constantly juggling two worlds. One minute you’re replying to client emails, the next you’re packing lunchboxes or racing to a school run. Switching off feels almost impossible — but without it, exhaustion builds, creativity suffers, and resentment creeps in.

The truth is, switching off doesn’t mean doing less. It means protecting your energy, setting boundaries, and learning to be fully present in whichever role you’re in.

Here’s how to make it work in real life.

1. Define Your Version of Balance

Forget the picture-perfect idea of balance where work and home are always evenly split. Balance looks different for everyone — and it changes depending on the season you’re in. For example:

• During a product launch, business may take more focus

• During school holidays, family may take priority

Write down what balance looks like for you right now. That clarity helps you make intentional choices instead of constantly feeling like you’re failing at both.

2. Set Clear Office Hours (and Actually Stick to Them)

Flexible hours are both a blessing and a curse. Without structure, work can bleed into every corner of your day. Protect yourself by setting working hours — even if it’s just “9–2 on weekdays” or “nap times + evenings.”

• Add these hours to your email signature

• Block them into your calendar

• Let clients know your availability upfront

When your boundaries are visible, they’re easier to uphold.

3. Create a Digital Cut-Off Ritual

The hardest part of switching off is often mental. Try creating a physical action that signals the end of your workday, such as:

• Closing your laptop and leaving your workspace

• Taking a short walk outside

• Changing clothes into something comfy

• Journaling for five minutes to “download” any lingering thoughts

These cues tell your brain: work is done, it’s time to shift gears.

4. Separate Spaces, Even in Small Ways

Not everyone has a home office — but you don’t need one to create separation. Use small visual cues to signal the difference between “work mode” and “mum mode.”

• A dedicated desk, even in the corner of a room

• A basket where your laptop goes after hours

• Headphones or a candle you only use while working

These little boundaries help train your brain to switch contexts more easily.

5. Protect Your Rest Like a Meeting

Your recovery time is not optional — it’s what keeps you creative, productive, and patient. Schedule it the way you’d schedule a client call. That could mean:

• A non-negotiable bedtime

• A weekly yoga or gym class

• One evening a week with no work or chores

Remember: you are the most important asset in your business. Protecting yourself is part of the job.

Switching off when you’re both CEO and mum isn’t about perfection. It’s about creating systems, signals, and self-compassion that let you move between roles without burning out.

👉 Our Motherhood meets CEO programme helps mums in business design boundaries that align with their values and goals. If switching off feels impossible, this programme will help you make it work for your life.  Start here