It makes sense because 2026 is going to be really full. We have a fixed schedule with our builder from February to April for the renovation, and if everything goes well, we move into our 1930s house by summer. It’s exciting, but also a bit terrifying.

I’m also properly starting to be active on social media this year. I’m still finding my way with it, and so far I find it quite challenging. There’s so much to learn, so many voices to listen to, and it’s easy to get distracted or pulled in different directions. I need to stay focused on why I’m doing this and what I actually want to say, rather than getting lost in everything else.

With projects this big coming, I know I need to be careful about where my energy goes. Focus on my family during what will probably be quite chaotic. Focus on building Maison Citrose. Focus on not completely losing myself in all of it.

The Vision Board

I made a vision board this year to help me see more clearly what really matters to me in 2026:

Home & Living
Obviously the renovation and the move. But also, finally having a proper garden where we can grow vegetables. Slow and seasonal living is about being more connected to the seasons, and growing our own food feels like the next step.

Style & Creativity
I’m working with a designer friend on vintage-inspired collars this year. It’s a small project, but it’s something creative that’s completely mine and I’m quite excited about it.

Motherhood
Gentle parenting and raising bilingual children remain central to how we live. It’s not always easy, especially when everyone’s tired, but it matters.

Business
This is where I really need to focus. I need proper systems for the website and social media, I want to get better at video editing, and I need to make affiliate marketing actually work. It’s a lot, but it’s also the foundation of what I’m trying to build.

January: Reset & Getting the Basics Right

I had big plans for January. Vision boards, content calendars, starting everything properly. But the girls were a bit unwell over Christmas, and we spent the first few weeks of the year just trying to catch up on sleep.

So instead of starting with everything at once, I’m leaning into the theme I chose for January in my Slow & Seasonal Living Calendar: Reset. It’s about clearing space for calm beginnings, and honestly, that’s exactly what we need right now.

The calendar prompts for January are quite simple:

1. Review your home spaces, family routines and personal habits. What works? What could be simplified?
2. Reflect on the rhythm you want for your family this year. Not resolutions, but rhythms that support rest and connection.
3. Involve your children in a family “refresh day”. Tidy toys, clear cupboards, donate things you don’t love anymore.

I’m not doing all of this perfectly, but it’s helping me focus on the basics:

Sleep, movement, and nutrition. Not in a “new year, new me” way, but more “we need to actually function.” Good bedtimes for everyone, including me. Eating proper meals instead of just grazing all day. Moving my body, even if it’s just walking around the neighbourhood.

Work routines and systems. I’m making templates for things I do often (Instagram captions, email sequences, blog structures). It sounds boring, but hopefully this will save me time later when things get really busy.

The January Could-Do Bucket List

The calendar also has a could-do bucket list for January, and I’ve been picking from it when we have the energy:

• Create a family vision board with simple dreams
• Write down three intentions for your family this year
• Begin a habit tracker for things you want to nurture
• Start a gratitude jar for the year ahead
• Sort through last year’s photos and create an album
• Take a photo of your child in the same spot each season
• Go on a winter walk and let the fresh air clear your mind
• Gather everyone for a slow, playful family yoga session

We’ve managed the winter walk (the snow helped with that), and I’m working on the habit tracker. The rest? We’ll see. Some of it will happen, some won’t. That’s okay.

What Focus Means for Me

For me, focus is about doing what matters and letting the rest go. Accepting that I cannot build a business, renovate a house, raise two small children and stay sane, all at the same intensity at the same time.

Something will need to take a step back at different moments, and that’s fine. The word “focus” is there to remind me to check in: What actually needs my attention right now? What can wait? What doesn’t need to be there at all?

I don’t know exactly how this year will look. The renovation might go smoothly, or it might take longer. The business might grow slowly and might need more time. But I know that if I can stay focused on what really matters (my family, our home, building something meaningful), then whatever happens, it will be okay.

The post Focus: My Word for 2026 appeared first on Maison Citrose.

You’ve probably heard of Scrum and those famous “standup meetings” where teams gather to share progress. Scrum comes from the software world, but its daily standup meeting works beautifully for solo entrepreneurs seeking more clarity in their days.

As mothers running our own businesses, we need a gentle framework that helps us make the most of our limited hours whilst honouring the reality of our days.

Why Daily Check-ins Matter for Mums in Business

When you’re juggling client work, school pickups, and building your dream business in the margins, it’s easy to reach Friday wondering where the week went. A brief daily check-in creates:

• Momentum – Small daily progress feels more achievable than overwhelming weekly goals
• Clarity – You know exactly what matters today, not someday
• Accountability – Even to yourself (which counts!)
• Grace – When you track what actually got done, you realise you’re accomplishing more than you think

Your 10-Minute Solo Standup

Set aside just 10–15 minutes each day at the same time. I’d suggest your morning coffee moment after the children leave for school, or that precious pocket of time during their first nap. You don’t have to literally stand (especially if you’re finally sitting down!), but some find it keeps the practice brief and energetic.

Ask yourself three simple questions:

1. What did I accomplish yesterday?

Be specific and kind to yourself. “Sent three client emails, photographed yesterday’s baking for Instagram, and ordered those linen samples” absolutely counts. Remember: small progress is still progress.

2. What will I focus on today?

Choose 1–3 key tasks. With limited hours, this protection of focus is crucial. Not ten things. Just what truly matters today.

Examples:

• Write newsletter draft
• List new products on Etsy
• Research Christmas market stall applications

3. What’s in my way?

This question invites real honesty with yourself. Perhaps it’s:

• A sick child → adjust expectations and be gentle with yourself
• Unclear about next steps on a project → can you break it down further?
• Feeling overwhelmed by social media → try blocking it for two hours
• Simply exhausted → perhaps today is a lighter admin day

Making It Work in Real Life

Speak it aloud – Even just to yourself whilst washing up breakfast dishes. There’s something about hearing your own voice that creates commitment.

Keep a simple log – A notebook by your workspace, a note in your phone, or a simple Google Doc. On difficult weeks, looking back at what you actually accomplished can be surprisingly encouraging.

Set a timer – Genuinely, just 10 minutes. This is meant to support you, not overwhelm you.

End with action – Adjust your day’s to-do list based on what you’ve just realised. If you’re blocked on one thing, perhaps start with another.

Adding Weekly Rhythms (Optional)

If daily check-ins feel good, you might add:

Monday Morning Planning (20–30 minutes) With your cup of tea, select the week’s priorities. What absolutely needs to happen? What would be lovely if time allows? Be realistic about your actual available hours—not your fantasy hours.

Friday Afternoon Review (15–20 minutes) Before the weekend begins, reflect briefly:

• What went well this week?
• What would help next week go even more smoothly?
• What can you celebrate about this week’s progress?

This creates a gentle rhythm that adapts to your life. Some weeks you’ll manage all of it. Some weeks you’ll adapt. Both are perfectly fine, that’s motherhood and self-employment working together.

Simple Tools That Actually Help

For the low-tech amongst us:

• A dedicated notebook for your daily standups
• Your kitchen calendar for weekly goals
• A simple to-do list app on your phone

If you like digital organisation:

• Trello or Notion with columns: To Do → Doing → Done
• Move tasks across as you work (it’s oddly satisfying
• Free versions work perfectly fine

When Scrum Doesn’t Fit: Try Personal Kanban

Some self-employed mothers find Kanban simpler than adapted Scrum, especially with variable client work or seasonal business rhythms:

• Visualise all tasks on one board
• Limit yourself to maximum 3 tasks “in progress” (this prevents the scattered feeling)
• No fixed meetings, just a flowing system you check daily
• Pull new tasks only when you finish others

Kanban often suits those of us with unpredictable weeks or ongoing client work, whilst personal Scrum shines when you want more reflection and weekly planning.

Permission to Experiment

Try scrums for just one week. See if those 10 minutes create more focus in your working hours. If something else works better for you, wonderful. Try Kanban. Try a simple prioritised list. Try something entirely different.

The goal is protecting and making the most of the time you have whilst honouring the season you’re in.

Your business thrives when you show up consistently in whatever way actually works for your life right now.

The post The Gentle Scrum: Daily Standups for Self-Employed Mothers appeared first on Maison Citrose.

As mums, our days are already full. Between school runs, nap times, and endless laundry, it can feel impossible to even think about starting something new. But affiliate marketing with Benable can be done slowly, in the little pockets of time you already have.

Table of Contents

• What is Benable?
• Step 1: Create Your Free Benable Account
• Step 2: Build Your First List
• Step 3: Add Affiliate Links
• Step 4: Share Your Benable Page
• A Gentle Way to Grow

What is Benable?

Benable is a platform where you can share the things you already love and use. Think of it like a simple online list. Instead of keeping your favourite books, skincare, or baby essentials in your notes app, you can put them on Benable and share them with others.

When someone clicks on a link and makes a purchase, you earn a small commission. It’s a way of turning your everyday recommendations into income.

Step 1: Create Your Free Benable Account

Go to benable.com and sign up. It only takes a few minutes.

If you’re using your Benable page for yourself and your home, you can use your name. If you want to build something bigger later on, you can choose a simple brand name.

Pro tip: Use your real name or your brand name for consistency across social media.

Step 2: Build Your First List

Inside your account, click “Create List.”

A list is just a small collection of things you recommend. Keep it simple. Start with one.

Here are some ideas for a first list:

• Books you’ve read during nap times
• Kitchen tools that make family meals easier
• Baby items you couldn’t live without
• Gentle toys that your children love

Think about what you’re already sharing with friends in real life. That’s the perfect place to start.

Step 3: Add Affiliate Links

You can add products to your list in two ways:

1. Directly through Benable – Search for the product and add it.
2. With affiliate links – If you’re already in an affiliate program (like Amazon Associates), paste your affiliate link when you add the product.

Don’t worry if you don’t have affiliate programs yet. Benable integrates with popular networks and helps you get started. Add what you use, one thing at a time.

Step 4: Share Your Benable Page

Your Benable page works like a mini-website for your recommendations.

You can share it:

• On Pinterest
• On Social Media accounts
• In blog posts or newsletters
• Directly with friends and family

It’s about sharing what already makes your daily life easier.

A Gentle Way to Grow

Starting is easy, but growing your income takes strategy. Here are my top tips:

• Focus on niches: Instead of sharing “everything,” create lists around specific interests
• Be authentic: Share products you actually use and love. Your audience can tell when it’s genuine.
• Promote regularly: Work your Benable lists into your regular social media content.
• Experiment: Try different types of lists to see what your audience clicks on most.

You don’t have to rush. Add to your lists slowly. Share them when it feels natural. Maybe you make a list while the baby naps. Maybe you add a few links while waiting at school pick-up.

Over time, those small steps build up. And one day you’ll see that something you shared has helped someone else.. and it’s also helped your family with a little extra income.

That’s the beauty of affiliate marketing with Benable. It’s simple. It fits into ordinary life. And it grows with you.

The post How to Use Benable to Start Affiliate Marketing: A Guide for Beginners appeared first on Maison Citrose.