7 Gentle lessons on balancing life as a neurodivergent business owner (and Mum)

My guilty pleasure is watching day-in-the-life vlogs on YouTube. It’s a bit of escapism and my way to procrastinate now and then (intentionally, of course) 🙃

I find it so fascinating to glimpse into the everyday lives of others -to see their routines and how they navigate their days. I mean, it does come with a tinge of comparison, sometimes even guilt, but deep down, I LOVE IT!!

But I never found a content creator who showed the juggle of balancing being a neurodivergent business owner with motherhood (hello, gap in the market, maybe).

Most of the “mommy content” tends to centre around stay-at-home mums (I love this for them, BTW, it’s just not my reality), and if I’m honest, it makes me feel like I “should” be doing more, so I avoid it.

I tend to gravitate towards more child-free content creators, but that doesn’t resemble my reality either. There are no slow mornings, I don’t wake up when I want, and my morning journal sessions are usually interrupted by ” I can’t find my trainers” and “Mummy, are you done yet?”

(I’m not complaining either, I know this is a season, and I’ll miss these chaotic mornings one day)

And on the business side, all I see are perfectly curated morning routines, beautifully organised workspaces, and rigid plans that people somehow always manage to stick to (yeah, that’s definitely not my reality)

What about those of us in the middle? 

Running a business while also juggling family life – where we might have boundaries around our work hours during school time, but still start the day tidying up breakfast dishes before client calls or need to shift our energy completely for the afternoon school run?

That beautiful yet challenging dance between business owner and mum rarely gets shown.

So, a couple of weeks ago, I decided to be brave and share something a bit different – a realistic glimpse into my actual week as an almost 40-year-old (autistic) mum running her own business. 

Now, I’ll admit, even though this video is somewhat romanticised (the magic of editing!), it is typical of what a normal week looks like for me.

No perfect setups, just the honest ebbs and flows of navigating work, family, and finding little pockets of joy along the way.

So, if my reality resembles yours, or you want a sneak peek into what I get up to every week, then have a look at my very first vlog.

After watching it back, I noticed some little nuggets of wisdom that had naturally emerged throughout my week about how I balance life as a neurodivergent creative business owner (and mum).

I wanted to share these with you in case they offer some gentle inspiration for your own business journey, too.

Before you read, please remember: These are simply my personal experiences and the ways I’ve learned to navigate my business and life. 

I believe these approaches can be valuable whether you’re a parent, neurodivergent, both, or neither!

The real key is creating awareness around your own patterns and finding ways to work with yourself rather than against yourself.

Always take what resonates with you and leave the rest. We’re all on our own journeys, and what works for me might not work for you – and that’s perfectly okay! 💕

1. How I transition from work mode to mum mode (and back) as a neurodivergent business owner

I noticed that I seem to have a lot of “transition” rituals – rituals that help me ease into mum mode or work mode, but also rituals that help me gently start my week – like my Monday morning ritual to ease myself into a new week.

I tidy my space every week, creating order in my physical environment. When my office feels upside down, I can’t seem to concentrate, so starting the week with a clear desk always helps. 

Plus, I most likely have about 999 mugs on my desk from the week before.

This is just one of the many transitional rituals I have created for myself to help me have a moment of pause and help my brain shift gears. 

Something else I love to do is have a sensory break between work and fetching my daughter from school. I’ll often leave a bit earlier (partly because I’m always worried I’m going to be late or doing the mental gymnastics of where I will park), but on the plus side, it also gives me a few moments in the car to catch my breath and release any stress from the day.

This simple ritual makes me a better mum and helps me decompress before another sensory overload.

2. Taking space for yourself (without the guilt)

Taking space and time for myself isn’t a luxury for me (although it really feels like it); it’s what I need to avoid meltdowns or shutdowns. As a mum, I don’t have time for my special interests, and it can be really hard not to hyperfocus and get lost down a rabbit hole of what is holding my interest at that moment.

So, it’s really important for me to take some time to go out on a walk or create small pockets of space just for me.

But I do feel guilty. Like all of the time! 

So, instead of letting all that mum guilt build up inside, I like to remind myself that I am actually modeling healthy boundaries for my daughter (who will need to learn these skills for herself one day).

I want her to know she can care for herself without the guilt.

I want her to see that everyone benefits when I return home, more present and grounded.

These pockets of space for yourself don’t need to be grand gestures or hours long. Even a short walk or sitting quietly with a cup of tea can create that essential breathing room that helps you show up more fully in all your roles.

3. Balancing life as a neurodivergent business owner means working with your energy

What became so clear in filming this week was how much awareness I have created around my energy (how much it fluctuates) and how important it is to work with those natural rhythms rather than against them.

I used to feel so guilty about having lower energy days, but now I know to expect these, and they are totally normal (whether you are neurodivergent or not, you are a human, not a robot)! You can’t expect to have the same energy (and output in productivity terms) every day!

Have I mentioned how much I hate the idea of productivity!!!

On low-energy days, I’ve learned to take things slower and be comfortable with moving tasks around. 

Instead of pushing through exhaustion (which rarely produces good work anyway), I might switch to something that requires less creative energy, like doing some admin or watching tutorials on skills I want to develop.

Creating space in my week for these energy fluctuations isn’t a luxury – it’s a necessity. At the same time, there are times when I have no choice but to push through, but I try to make this the exception rather than the rule, which has been transformative for me.

Working with your energy doesn’t mean being “less productive .” It means being more intentional about when and how you use your energy, and honouring your need for rest and sensory breaks.

4. Honest client relationships have helped me create a better business

I noticed how potent it is to have a good working relationship with my clients. Being upfront and honest about my limitations (whether that be as a mum or as a neurodivergent business owner) has allowed me to get more comfortable advocating for myself and asking for some grace when my brain just won’t do what I need it to do.

I have gotten comfortable reshuffling priorities and timelines when I need to!

I am totally okay with asking my clients if something can be moved to another day because my daughter is sick or when my energy would be better suited to the task.

I used to believe that this was super unprofessional, but now I see it as a mark of self-awareness and commitment to doing the absolute best for my clients. And I encourage them to do the same, showing them that it’s okay to be a human running a business (especially as a one-person, client-centred business).

Life happens on both sides and sometimes things need to shift. Very few things are truly so urgent that the world will end if they’re moved by a day or two.

And I know this kind of flexibility comes from building long-term relationships with mutual understanding and respect. But I have found that being upfront about being a mum (and now knowing that I am autistic) is helping me create more ease in my business.

Our conditioning in this fast-paced world makes us feel like everything is urgent and that any adjustment equals letting someone down. But most people are understanding because, at the end of the day, they would want to know that you aren’t putting yourself under pressure just to “get the job done.”

I know it’s not easy, but learning to reshuffle things around intentionally without feeling guilty is a valuable skill that helps you deliver your best work while honouring your own needs.

5. Balancing life as a Mum (and or) neurodivergent business owner requires understanding your needs

There are some mornings when my routine gets disrupted because my husband is away, and I have to do the school run myself – it might seem like such a small thing to others, but for my autistic brain, these changes can have ripple effects throughout the day.

I love knowing this about myself because, before my diagnosis, this was something that would lead to a huge fight or me having to write off an entire day (to be fair, sometimes this still happens).

But, instead of being hard on myself for struggling to get into flow or feeling frustrated, I can recognise: “Ah, my routine is disrupted. This is going to make today feel a bit off, and that’s okay.”

This self-awareness doesn’t magically fix things, but it gives me the language to be kinder to myself when I feel out of sync or can’t seem to get into my tasks for the day. 

I have learned to give myself extra time to find my rhythm again or do some mundane tasks that are easy for me to do. Sometimes, that means not fighting it and calling it a day when it comes to work.

You might be rolling your eyes, thinking that must be nice for you, but honestly, this is how I have intentionally designed my business, so I have enough space for this to be possible.

Understanding your own patterns and needs rather than constantly fighting against them or feeling guilty about them offers such freedom. 

This is especially true for neurodivergent business owners. Our brains are wired differently, and honouring that is the first step toward working with our strengths rather than against them.

6. Noticing my perfectionist tendencies before I start to spiral.

It’s no secret that I am a recovering perfectionist. Add to that being neurodivergent and a mum, and well, at some point, I’ve had to learn to notice when I’m starting to spiral and when I need to let go of everything being perfect.

Hehe, there’s nothing like having kids to help you let go of things being perfect. But it’s not always easy, and I like doing things my way and exactly how I imagined them (in my mind, which is always sort of scripted and planned well in advance 🤣).

For example, while shooting my weekly vlog, I was anxious about finding the “perfect” filming location. I also worried about narrow roads, parking, and all the logistics. But before I let this ruin my day, I realised I was letting perfectionism steal the joy from something that should have been nourishing.

I can shift my approach by recognising these patterns / behaviours (without judgement). 

Instead of forcing myself into an anxiety-producing situation, I can change my plans and shift things so that they don’t feel as overwhelming, and I can do hard things that in the past I would have avoided.

I always think perfectionism is a sign that I have disconnected from the purpose of what I am doing. So when I find myself spiralling into all the details and trying to make sure everything is perfect, I will pause and ask myself, “What is the real intention here? “What matters most about this thing I am doing?”

Reconnecting with that deeper why helps me let go of the outcome and enjoy the process a little more.

7. Finding what works for you and your business as a mum and neurodivergent business owner

It has taken me years to figure out how to navigate being a mum, autistic, and a business owner.

But something so helpful is creating awareness around how I spend my time, what gives me energy vs what drains my energy, and noticing my patterns and where I get stuck.

This has helped me create a business that truly works for me and my lifestyle (and brain, hehe).

The beauty of finding your own rhythm in business is that it looks different for everyone. 

What matters most isn’t following someone else’s ideal schedule, blueprint, or productivity system. 

It’s trying to create a business that honours who you are, how you’re wired, and what matters most to you. That’s the sustainable path – not forcing yourself into someone else’s version of success.

I’d love to hear which of these lessons resonated most with you or what wisdom you’ve gained from your own journey of balancing life as a mum, neurodivergent business owner (or both).

Remember, there’s no one “right way” to run a business. The most sustainable approach honors who you are, how you’re wired, and what matters most to you.

If you enjoyed this post and would like more thoughts delivered straight to your inbox, you can sign up for my email newsletter, Rituals and Remedies. I love to share my personal practice and rituals for running my business in alignment with the wheel of the year and the natural rhythms of life.

You can also learn more about working with me 1:1 – as I help you run your business more in tune with the seasons. So you can build a business that doesn’t leave you feeling exhausted and overwhelmed. Instead, run a cosy, seasonal business that supports you in harnessing your creativity and energy, making space for seasons of growth, reflection, action, AND REST!