As a wife, mother, and owner of Rheinlander Bakery, Loren Naftz knows firsthand the delicate balance of work and family life. She and her husband, Luke, love fostering a family atmosphere at the bakery and they enjoy that customers and staff alike have seen their children grow up over the years. However, Loren also acknowledges the importance of creating separate spaces to ensure a healthy balance.
“When my oldest son is in school, my husband and I are able to get work done at the bakery, and generally we can spend time again together in the evening and take care of things around the house,” shares Loren. “Sometimes maintaining this balance means coming in to work in the middle of the night, but it is worth the payoff of not missing out on important milestones.”
Multi-tasking and juggling responsibilities are daily occurrences for Loren. Having a dependable team and solid support system helps ensure everything stays on track even when her attention is pulled in multiple directions. “My husband and I are a great team in terms of keeping our family and business both running smoothly, but we also have an amazing team that we rely on when we have to focus more on our kids,” Loren says. “Recently, our 3-year-old spent a month in the hospital after surgery to remove a brain tumor and we were so grateful to be able to focus on our kids during that hard time without worrying about the business.”
Being a mom and business owner often have more in common than at first glance. Both involve managing different personalities and getting everyone enthusiastically moving in the same direction. Loren says being a mom helps her be a better business owner. “I think I am more patient and empathetic when dealing with my staff than I would be without having children,” she says.
For working mothers, taking time for self-care is crucial to staying well and avoiding burnout. Loren’s stress relief comes in the form of weekly inline hockey nights with her brother, practicing yoga at a local studio, and spending one-on-one time with her husband. “By having activities that have designated times, I automatically have them in my schedule and generally consider them non-negotiable,” explains Loren. “Luke and I also make an effort to go on dates at least a couple times a month so we can connect with each other separate from the business and kids.”
Drawing on her years of experience, Loren has advice for women entrepreneurs concerning maintaining a healthy work-life balance. “Set yourself up in a way that will allow you to make time for your family, because you will regret it later if you are always working and miss out on their childhood. Maybe that means hiring more staff, maybe it means limiting hours, but you have to make it a priority,” she explains. “If you already are running a business and can't envision how you can manage to start a family and make it work, you just have to go for it and figure it out when you get there. Otherwise, you'll miss your chance.”
Even on the craziest days, Loren says it’s all worth it. “I am extremely grateful to have to ability to provide for my family in a way that also contributes to my community at large.”