Inspiring Women: Bron from Mumlyfe

This week’s feature for our Inspiring Women Series is writer, social media whiz Bron Mandile, Founder of Mumlyfe – a website for mothers of older kids. to tell us all about why she started her business, her productivity working from home, her favourite podcast, and tells a piece of advice for women in business.

Why did you start your business?

Mumlyfe came to be when my kids grew up, but the Australian parenting market didn’t grow with them. I found myself writing in hindsight about the 0-5 years, and noone seemed interested in parenting stories about older kids. Mums of tweens and teens still desperately need information and shared connection, so I decided to create a place for that to happen.

The best way to be productive when you work form home?

I’ve been working from home exclusively for about nine years, so I’ve got this! I have a really strict routine (that I’ve recently had to adjust as the whole family is now up in my grill, working from home… oh, the togetherness!!). My general routine: school drop, cup of tea, quick house tidy, 20 min online Pilates, check emails, do the work. I take a five-minute mini-break every hour to stretch and maybe duck outside for a breather. I only check my emails after that five minute break and then get back into it. I try to stop for a proper lunch and never, ever work in my pyjamas!

I’m trying to stick to this as much as I can while juggling three high schoolers learning from home and a working from home husband who has A LOT of loud meetings.

Favourite Podcast?

I’ve listened for years to My Dad Wrote a Porno, Hidden Brain, Invisibilia, The Upgrade by Lifehacker, Science Vs and recently I’m loving The Creativity Couch.

How can we support small business at the moment?

We’ve committed to getting takeaway at least twice a week from our favourite restaurants. We’re buying online from small providers, rather than chain stores (though we bear in mind that many chain stores are actually small business franchises themselves!). We’re still ‘buying from the bush’ to help kick regional economies along.