Three cheers to you, mama.

According to a survey conducted by Gusto, 49% of entrepreneurs in 2020 were women (compared to just 27% in recent years). Only 60% of new entrepreneurs in 2020 identified as White Non-Hispanic in 2020 (compared to the 81% seen in previous years) — while the percentage of Black/African American and Hispanic/Latino entrepreneurs increased over the same time period by 8.5% and 3.2% respectively).

One — 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽.

Two — we can't help but consider some of the reasons why there was a huge jump in 2020. No doubt fueled by the pandemic — women, especially working moms, were squeezed from all sides.

When kids were home and work was too — "innovation out of need" kicked into high gear and a whopping 49% of women decided to take the leap into being their own boss.

Ask anyone — even the most seasoned of them — entrepreneurship is no easy task. But in our eyes? It's just another thing working moms have the chops for because of the unique skills we bring to the table.

If you resolve to do only one thing in 2022, prioritize your emotional health. For working moms, emotional self-care can be a to-do that never gets done. At least not until a Starbucks app malfunction triggers a sobbing session in the front seat of the car. Whether tears, fury, or a full-blown panic attack those “sudden” emotional bursts, aren’t it. Just as our hearts are always beating, we are always feeling. Even when you’re not aware it’s there, persistent emotional pain is making everything you do, harder. You don’t need harder! Prioritizing emotional health will transform your life, so I’ll be offering guidance all year.

Let’s begin with a baby step: sleep. Our toughest emotions send important messages about unmet needs that undermine wellness. Sleep deprivation garbles those messages. We need 7 to 9 hours of sleep in a 24-hour period to thrive. Getting only 5 or 6 hours is linked to emotional problems, poor concentration, and sadly — divorce.

I challenge you to become a professional sleeper. My personal strategy? Melatonin, lavender oil, a weighted sleep mask, music, and naps. My kids are adults now but once upon a time I had a car pillow and blanket for naps during ballet and soccer. Sleep by any means necessary. You’re unique. Experiment to find what works for you. You’re worth it.

From my heart to yours,
Dr. Anita

ONE. Thinking of taking the leap into entrepreneurship this year? One of our favorite experts on all things business is no other than working mom, Jasmine Star. Her blog, podcast, and Instagram are literal gold mines when It comes to resources to help get you started as a business owner. Does the thought of starting a business or being your own boss overwhelm you? Check out her podcast episode all about balancing your time and responsibilities as an entrepreneur — AKA how to get more done in less time.

TWO. Did you read Dr. Anita's words and think, "Sleep? What's sleep? Do working moms sleep?" — we get it. For some of us — sleep is hard to come by. Babies, toddlers, racing thoughts, barking dogs — whatever it is — sometimes, you just can't catch those Zs. We LOVED this article from our pals over at The Everymom, filled with tips and products to help you hit the hay. Check it out here.

THREE. Our friend, Dan Harris, founder of Ten Percent Happier, created a custom meditation just for working moms subscribed to The CARRY™ ALL. The best part? It's 14-minutes long — a total self care (and deep sleep-promoting!) win for working moms whose days are full to the brim with... you know, life. Listen to Dan's guided meditation here.

Sadie Robertson is an author, founder of Live Original, podcast host, and new mother to Honey (8 months).

What is one thing you would say to encourage moms juggling a million things at once?
Get your priorities straight. If you get your priorities straight, then you can make time for what’s important. My priority is my daughter, Honey, and at the end of the day I want to spend time with her. Remembering that helps me get my work done during the day more efficiently.

Where does your working mom guilt fall on a scale of 1-10?
I would say I don’t really have working mom guilt because I know what I’m doing matters. Plus, I feel like a lot of what I’m doing is paving a way for Honey’s future. That being said, there are still moments that I wish I was with her so I would probably say a 3. So, it’s there but I feel confident in what I’m doing.

If you could switch careers with one person, who would it be?
I genuinely don’t think I would ever switch careers with anyone else because I love what I do. But one day, I would like to have a talk show like Ellen.

Working moms get — on average — 14 free minutes a day. When you find those, what are you doing with them?
Play tennis. I will literally go out and hit for 10 minutes. It is the one thing I do where my brain absolutely turns off. Nothing else will turn my brain off but hitting a tennis ball.

Who's a mom you admire and why?
My mom. She works her little booty off and manages to still make us all feel equally loved.

Last show you binged or watched?
Virgin River. I binged during postpartum.

In the new year — do you organize all the things or shove it all out of sight?
I would say organize. I am definitely the type of person to make a New Year’s Resolution even though I might not keep it.

Speaking of new entrepreneurs in 2020...

If you’ve purchased a car in the last year and a half, you may know Kelly Stumpe better as Instagram’s famed The Car Mom — but in case you’re still slaying in your 2004 Honda Odyssey like us — MEET KELLY!

“I launched The Car Mom in June of 2020, when the Coronavirus pandemic was in full swing. At the time, I didn’t feel like I could bring my toddler to the grocery store with me safely, so I couldn’t imagine how moms felt about car shopping with their families. I hoped that by touring cars from the perspective of a mom and posting those tours to social media, I could help families as they narrowed down vehicles in their car shopping journey. I saw a need and was looking for a creative outlet, hoping to build a small community and sell a few more cars."

Did we mention she was five months pregnant and had a one-year old at home with her at the time? Um… show us your ways, queen?

And the mission of The Car Mom? It gets us all sorts of fired up.

“The Car Mom is dedicated to empowering moms and families to make the most informed and confident decision when car shopping. We want to create a positive car buying experience for both the female consumer and the dealership by dismantling outdated stereotypes between the two and changing the narrative of a traditionally male dominated industry.”

Louder for the people in the back, Kelly!