JILL WRIGHT

Jill Wright, the visionary woman behind the Grow Like a Mother Company, is dedicated to empowering mothers to craft fulfilling and sustainable lives. With four children of her own and a busy schedule encompassing time management, writing, speaking, and podcasting, Jill is trying to redefine what it means to be a good mother while being a strong self-advocate. Having personally experienced the struggle of balancing work and family, Jill advocates for self-care tailored to everyone’s needs.

We sat down to learn more about Jill and her innovative approach to Motherhood.

Tell us about your mission with Grow Like a Mother Company?
I’m deeply passionate about serving moms by helping them to create their desired life in a sustainable, personalized way. I am a mother to four children aged four through fourteen, a time management strategist, celebrated author, professional speaker, and host of the Grow Like A Mother Podcast. My mission is for moms everywhere to realize that they can create the life of their dreams and make it all work without working so hard!

How do you effectively manage your time to ensure that you fulfill your professional responsibilities while also prioritizing quality time with your family?
I see so much mom guilt stemming from being overwhelmed with getting it done right/perfect and yet always feeling like they fell short somewhere. The truth is that what works for me won’t necessarily work for you, or what works for the mom down the street might not work for me.

Over the past twenty years, I’ve spent much time studying time management and productivity. What I have come to know is that each of us has certain ways of operating, which, combined with our specific type of work, home life, and other responsibilities, lends itself to differing styles of time management.  

For example, some people work well under pressure but might get easily distracted. Others might work well as a team but need help making decisions. Our approach to building each of these moms’ time management frameworks will be completely different.  

I remember all the details for everyone in my household and business, but I never ask for help. In my case, the tools that I find work are creating solid boundaries and systems (in my home life as well as in my business) and having only three to-dos on my weekly calendar to allow me the freedom to pivot based on my fluctuating energy, and to delegate the tasks that don’t have to specifically be done by me to someone else I can trust or train to take on the task. 

Your online persona is seen as fun, relatable, and filled with valuable advice. How do you see this making an impact on your audience?
No one was more surprised when my advice content started taking off. It was something that I was purely doing for fun. I did have a moment where I paused and asked if I even had any business telling anyone what to do. I am 36. I am divorced. Why should people listen to me? But I also know that I’ve lived, loved, lost, and learned so much along that way that maybe some people haven’t, so why not me? Meaningful conversations come from seeing yourself in someone else sometimes. It took me a long time to be comfortable with who I am and able to reach women from a place of confidence. 

What strategies and techniques do you share with mothers as a Time Management Strategist?
My top tip for any mom is to develop a weekly planning strategy. Whether digital or in an old-school planner like I use, take 10 minutes each Sunday and prepare for the week ahead. Put in all your weekly recurring tasks and appointments. Put in any special occasions or dates marked on that monthly calendar view. See how much free time you have, and from there, choose three things you can commit to getting done that week. By narrowing down your focus to three things, you automatically prioritize based on your values and what will make the most significant impact. Having only three to-dos gives you lots of flexibility regarding scheduling them and the freedom to move them if life throws you a curveball.

From there, my second favorite tip comes into play: Do the thing that you are most likely to put off first. In addition to the forward momentum, you get by completing something you have likely been procrastinating on, you remove huge stress, and even if you don’t accomplish as much as you thought you would that day, at least you got the big one. 

Our society has gotten away from “it takes a village to raise a child.” Why do you believe support systems and communities are incredibly important for mothers? 
It takes a village to raise a mother. We aren’t meant to do it alone, and we aren’t meant to do it all. The idea that mothers can and should be the default parent, carry the mental load of the family, manage all the household chores, and work outside the home to earn a living is ridiculous. Society tells us from an early age that this is not only expected but possible, so we go out like the good girls we were raised to be and aim for perfection in all areas.

Perfection is a horrible lie and the worst target to aim for because it’s unattainable. We need to acknowledge our priorities, agree with the other people in our lives about the division of labor and responsibilities, and lean into the help and support of those who love us. Not only should we say yes to offers of help, but we should actively go out and ask for it. It’s the only way to avoid burnout.  

Can you share some self-care practices or rituals that help you recharge and maintain your physical, mental, and emotional health?
How much time do you have? Again, this is something that needs to be uniquely considered and curated from person to person (do you sense a theme yet?). My offering is this: Set aside one hour a week (maybe while you are doing your weekly planning!) dedicated to self-care. It doesn’t need to be the same day or time each week. Pick an hour that works for you this week and put it in your planner like a non-negotiable appointment.

Then, pick up a pen and make yourself a list of what you consider restful, healing, energizing, and happiness-inducing. This can be an ongoing list you add to as you think of things because the first attempt will probably be weak. As mothers, we often struggle to identify activities that fill our cups.  

Show up at your self-appointed time this week without expecting what you will do and choose something from your self-care list. Tune in and listen to what your body needs. Is it a nap? A walk outside? An ice cream? Do you need alone time or social connection? Do you need to move, read, or laugh? This is how we start to prioritize and enjoy our self-care practice.  

For more information on Jill Wright, visit jillwright.ca