Doula School Canada

Category: Business & Professional Growth

Guidance for doulas building sustainable careers. Explore topics on business development, mentorship, marketing, volunteering, virtual support, and growing your professional practice with confidence.

  • Making Time for Your Business

    Making Time for Your Business

    [vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1620640152795{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]Making time for your business or schooling while starting out can feel overwhelming. Everyone is given the same 24 hours in a day. Whether you’re a busy parent, full-time student, working two jobs, or generally just living life through these crazy times, how you choose to break up your day or prioritize your schedule can help make or break your business or learning. 

    When you are beginning training in birth work it often feels safer to hide behind books and other learning materials instead of taking the plunge to start your side business. It’s always great to educate yourself, and important for your certification; however, sometimes you just have to put the book down and test things out for yourself. Reading or listening to audiobooks can take up a lot of time. They also don’t sink in as well as learning on the go. It’s okay to be afraid of failure, just don’t become paralyzed by the fear. No book will give you the magic business answer you’re looking for. Everything you need to succeed is already in you. Take a leap of faith and go for it. 

     

    So how do you start? Here are some time management techniques that may help you get organized. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1620639964218{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]The Pomodoro Technique

    A time focused technique to help you find time to start a side business is the Pomodoro Technique. This technique requires you to first prioritize your daily tasks. Then, you can set a timer for 25 minutes and take a five minute break between sets. After completing four 25-minute sets you can take a 20 minute break. This allows you to have laser focus on a task for 25 minutes and allowing you to disconnect from your work for a five minute break. This is helpful for those who need to check their phones constantly as it works in time for quick breaks. You can use your phone’s timer or you can search ‘timer’ in Google and a timer will pop up[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][mk_image src=”https://stefanie-techops.wisdmlabs.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/pomodoro-tech.png” image_size=”full”][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1620640473548{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]80/20 Rule

    The 80/20 rule, also known as the Pareto Principle, suggests that 80% of your results comes from 20% of your output. To find time to start a side business, you need to determine which things are producing the results to focus time on only those things. You can also use this principle to determine which part of your daily routine isn’t producing results for you. For example, if you spend your weekends marathoning shows on Netflix, sleeping in or going out, you may have better results cutting back to make time for your side business.

     

    Now for the tips on how to keep going: 

    Be aware of Time Wasters

    Avoid spending time on things that don’t bring results. Some people spend an entire week designing a logo or crafting the perfect 20-page business plan. However, those tasks don’t generate money for your business. A business plan can start off as a one-pager and be modified along the way. If you lack design skills, you can outsource your logo, or use a tool such as an online logo maker which can be extremely simple to use, and will help you save a lot of time. Or If the task can be modified or changed along the way, there’s no need to overspend time on it. Create a list of priorities such as creating ads, partnering with influencers, producing unique content such as blog posts or social media posts or managing your finances. Then, focus your workload on the top priorities which yield the best results.

     

    Set Firm Deadlines

    Setting firm deadlines for projects forces you to make time to work on your business. By not allowing yourself to be flexible, you’ll do whatever it takes to make it happen such as waking up earlier or avoiding distractions. What goals do you want to achieve? When do you want to achieve each goal? Write down exact dates. You’ll find that more often than not, you’re able to achieve your goals by the deadline.

     

    Don’t Waste Time on Social Media, Maximize It

    Without a doubt, social media is a very powerful tool. It reaches out to hundreds upon thousands of people at once. Make sure your business is engaged in social media. This helps you stay relevant. Your content must provide some type of value to your audience. That value could be education, increased productivity, entertainment, or cost savings. It also needs to be in your voice. Share who you are and engage with your audience in an authentic way!

    Social media can be addicting. Most of us have the tendency to check our news feed repeatedly throughout the day. You can download a tool like the Chrome extension News Feed Eradicator to help prevent you from getting distracted for hours on Facebook. The tool blocks your news feed without you having to delete or deactivate your Facebook account. If you know social media is slowing down your business’ progress this is a great quick fix solution. Stay focused on your goal, and don’t let yourself get distracted.

     

    Learn to Say No

    Richard Branson once said, “Business opportunities are like buses, there’s always another one coming.” So while it might be tempting to say yes to every opportunity, saying no often may actually work in your favor. Saying no gives you time to work on things you say yes to. It can help improve your productivity while also creating boundaries. Avoid agreeing to every opportunity or trying every tactic at the same time. Having a laser-like focus can help you achieve your goals faster because you’ll learn how to master things quickly.

     

    Hang onto your Enthusiasm

    If you ponder over what differentiates an average person from one who has achieved stupendous success, you will realize that it may be the intensity of enthusiasm that has helped the highly successful person reach such great heights. Those who could accomplish great things in their chosen fields could not have done so without enthusiasm.

    If you are enthusiastic about a particular goal, you will be so excited that you will do your best in order to achieve it. It will keep you motivated to go on and on with it. This does not mean you will work on it all the time, but even if you are not your mind will constantly be thinking about the goal you are enthusiastic about. It is exactly your subconscious mind that will be focusing on the things you are passionate & enthusiastic about. A lot of research has taken place about the power of the subconscious mind and these researches have revealed that it has enormous powers. When it constantly works on a thing you are enthusiastic about, you will get great ideas and this will fast-track your success.

     

    Divide your Time: For Work, Family and Yourself 

    Schedule in family time, downtime and work time. When it’s on the calendar, that means you’ve prioritized it and planned for it. Once it’s on the calendar, defend it at all costs. If you have work tasks to do, focus on them distraction-free. If you said you’d stop working at a specific time and relax with family, be sure to stick to that and completely unplug.

    That means it’s more likely to happen. For example, if you want to plan a weekly date with your spouse, it’s much better to put it on your calendar set to a specific day and time instead of just saying you’ll get around to it when you can.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1620639940087{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]As much as investing in your business is important, investing in yourself will make the business thrive. 

    Success doesn’t happen overnight- it takes time to build a successful business, and there certainly isn’t a secret formula to success. It takes passion, and a lot of determination and resilience, not to mention confidence, and an appetite to take risks. Invest in yourself, schedule and keep your enthusiasm high and you will achieve great things! [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

  • Using Inclusive Language in Birth Work

    Using Inclusive Language in Birth Work

    [vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1617899935998{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]Let’s start with this: not all birthing people are women.

    The birth world is full of ideas about who can get pregnant, give birth, and parent.  This is reflected in the images we see on social media (hello, white dresses and flower crowns), the materials available to us (the classic La Leche League text, “The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding”), and the language that automatically gets applied to pregnant people (“Hi mamas!”)

    If you’re somebody whose understanding or experience of parenthood fits into these ideas, you might not have even noticed that they exist. If you’re somebody whose understanding or experience of parenthood exists outside of these ideas, you’re probably painfully aware that they are there.

    If your own personal connection to pregnancy and birth is rooted in being a woman, that’s okay. If your passion for birthwork, your reason for becoming a doula, and your personal brand are all rooted in working with women, that’s okay too.  What isn’t okay is forcing these ideas on to people who don’t fit into them.

    As doulas, our work is meant to be client-centered.  This means listening to our clients’ needs and doing what we can to meet them. As well as being about which resources you share and which comfort measures you offer, being client-centered is about how you recognize your clients and the language that you use. If you are working with a client whose experience of pregnancy, birth, and parenthood don’t align with your understanding of these things, then it is your job to shift your framework to include them.

    Some suggestions:

    1. When introducing yourself to a client, share your pronouns as well as your name: “Hi, my name is Anna and I use she/her pronouns.” This creates space for your clients to share their pronouns too.
    2. Think about the language and images you use in your own materials and brand.  Who does it include?  Who does it exclude?
    3. Share the terms that you use, but acknowledge that clients’ may use different ones.  “I generally use the term breastfeeding, but let me know if you would prefer chestfeeding, nursing, or something else.”
    4. Recognize that we are always learning and growing and sometimes that means we will make mistakes.  If you are challenged on something that you’ve said or done, say thank you and move on: “Thank you– parent, not mom.  I’ll try to not make that mistake again.”
    5. When possible, challenge other service providers’ language and assumptions too.
    6. Find opportunities to celebrate a range of identities, experiences, and families.  You can do this through your conversations with colleagues and clients, your social media, and events like Pride.

    [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][mk_image src=”https://stefanie-techops.wisdmlabs.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/instead-of.png” image_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1617915869980{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]Building an inclusive doula practice means being intentional about the way you understand and reflect who can get pregnant, give birth, and be a parent. Unlearning and expanding these ideas can be challenging, but also rewarding.  Doing this work means that you’ll be ready to work with all clients, not just all mothers.

    What are you doing to make your work inclusive?  Let us know in the comments![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

  • Getting to know our Members: 6 Questions

    Getting to know our Members: 6 Questions

    [vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1590763418165{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]Meet Sarah Alicia Elder. Owner of ElderFlower Doula Serving families in New Westminster B.C Canada, This mother of three, can’t stay still and her love for learning has opened up many different career paths. Her sense of community has led her to different fields within human services. Now, Sarah is putting it all together to help families in New Westminster. She is a full-service doula-in-training offering support and resources for pre-pregnancy to post-partum and everything in-between.

    We had a chat with Sarah Alicia about what brought her to this work and got to know her a little better!

    Why did you decide to become a Birth Professional ?

    I have always been drawn to working with babies and young children. When I was in high school, I wanted to become a midwife but never felt like I could do the education. I didn’t learn about doula work until I was pregnant with my first and had a friend’s sister offer doula services. I did some research and after having my second baby, I noticed that for much of the birthing experience, a doula is very much needed. I liked my nurses but having someone helping me or just keeping space for me before going to the hospital as well as having a familiar face throughout the experience would have been a blessing. After talking with other mothers, I realized so many of us do not have extra help and/or have partners who are unsure how to help. Doulas make sure all the questions running around in our head are answered. 

    What is the most surprising thing you have learned so far as a birth worker/ educator?

    The most surprising thing I have learned is that doulas play such an important role and complement other birth workers. Doulas, however, I feel are often forgotten. I still have people ask me what a doula is when I tell others what I do for work. After explaining the role I play during pregnancy, labour and birth, many say they wished they had a doula working with them at their own births. More people are choosing to have a doula present for many different reasons; not having a reliable person to help, choosing to give birth as a single parent, and birthing at home are just a few. Slowly, as more and more companies see the value of doula support and realize that not every family is in a financial situation to afford doula services, extended medical plans are starting to cover the costs of doula support. Studies show that continuous support from a doula lowers intervention rates, including cesarean. As a society, it is imperative that we demand better support to drive change. Nothing happens if we don’t ask!

    Why did you choose Doula Canada?

    I chose Doula Canada mainly because it is Canadian and has an online option. Having very young children and being a stay-at-home mom makes going to an in-person class a lot harder. The flexibility of making my own learning schedule was a must. I also love that the organization has international ties and offer so many different classes to help me further my career. The instructors and directors care about their work and are so hands-on. I don’t feel like just a number but as an important part of the doula community.

     

    Interesting Fact about yourself ( hobby, quirk)

    As well as being a doula, I am a certified cosmetologist and sewer. I love making and creating new outfits by using old clothing from when I was little. 

     

    If you could give advice to someone just starting out what would you say..

    The advice I would love to give to someone just starting out is to be true to yourself. Take your special skills and incorporate them into your doula work. For me, using my background as a cosmetologist and my love for being hands-on and creative, I offer self-care and keepsake art projects to my clients. The things I learned in previous jobs have helped make my doula business unique to me! [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1590764107834{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]   You can learn more about Sarah Alicia here

    Website: https://elderflowerdoula.wordpress.com/

    Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/elderflowerdoula/[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][/vc_column][/vc_row]

  • 10 Tips for Winter Doula Life in Canada

    10 Tips for Winter Doula Life in Canada

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    Winter is fast approaching, and for some of us we couldn’t be happier. However, if you’re like me, it’s a less than exciting time. Here in Newfoundland, winter lasts about half the year, so we need to put in some extra effort to try to enjoy this tidbit nipply season. As a Canadian doula, we have the extra challenge of navigating birth work through this unpredictable time of year. Here are my suggestions to help you get through these cold months:

    [/vc_column_text][mk_padding_divider][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1572904448393{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]Number 1:
    Have good winter tires – we can be called to a birth or scheduled for a postpartum shift anytime, so it’s important to be confident on the road. If you’re able to reschedule your shifts if the weather is bad, all the better, but even on a nice day you might be facing some less than optimal road conditions. Personally, I hate spending money on my car, but good tires are an investment in my safety and the safety of everyone else on the road too, and a bit of piece of mind.

    Number 2:
    Make sure your childcare will still stand if there’s a snow day at school or if the road conditions are really bad – will your sitter or family still be able to get to you or take your child if there is no school? Make sure you have backup for your back up if circumstances change.

    Number 3:
    Have an emergency pack ready in your car – are you prepared if you get stuck somewhere and can’t get home? Have some extra toiletries and clothes packed incase you need to stay with friends or sleep in the waiting room of the hospital before you get home. I know at the end of a long birth or shift it can be very tempting to just push through and try to get home, but sometimes its better to stay where you are until the roads clear up. Have things packed so you’re ready if you need to wait to get home.

    Number 4:
    Get outside as much as possible – it can be very tempting to ignore the existence of snow and slush and cold. But for our mental health, it important for us to get for fresh air and some vitamin D. You can try snowshoeing or skiing. Or maybe it just a matter of standing outside your door for a couple seconds in the mornings to start your day.

    Number 5:
    Pack layers in your go bag – the temperature of a hospital room or someone else’s house in unpredictable at the best of times, but especially during the winter. Pack lots of layers so that you can stay comfortable and your clients don’t need to accommodate you.

    Number 6:
    Give yourself lots of time for travel – maybe you need to adjust your contract to allow for extra travel time during the winter months. If you live close to the hospital, or if your catchment area for your clients is pretty small, it might not make a difference to your travel time, but make sure you either leave earlier than you usually would or make sure clients know you might take a bit longer, weather depending.

    Number 7:
    Have some soul warming self care practices – birth work is hard work, both physically and mentally, and self care may look different during the winter months. Make sure you have some ways to fill your cup and keep your heart warm. Maybe you like having a hot bath, or enjoying a cup of tea or really good coffee or stretching your body and mind with a regular yoga practice. Take care or yourself so you can better take care of your clients and your family.

    Number 8:
    Stay active – We need to take care of our bodies so that we don’t risk injury when we are working with families, be it at a birth or during postpartum shifts. It’s easy to increase how much time we spend sitting when its not so nice out, so make sure you’re doing things to keep your body moving. Yoga, swimming, snowshoeing, skiing, walking on an indoor track, stacking wood are all great ways to keep your body active when its tempting to just stay inside and cozy under a blanket for the next 6 months.

    Number 9:
    Eat as healthy as possible – fresh fruit and veggies are hard to come by in the middle of winter. To care for our bodies, we must also be conscious of our nutrition. I’m guilty of becoming lazy when it comes to cooking healthy meals. Frozen fruit and veggies are a great way to keep the good food coming without spending a fortune to buy out of season produce. Maybe make some granola bars or trail mix to bring with you to births and shifts so that you’re not tempted to buy junk to keep your body full of fuel.

    Number 10:
    Learn to embrace it a little – it took me a long time, but eventually I came to the realization that I don’t want to be miserable for half of my life, so I figured out how to, not love, but embrace winter a little bit more. Whether it’s at home, at work or in your social life, do something that helps you to enjoy this colder season.[/vc_column_text][mk_padding_divider][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1572904478048{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]

    We live in a very large and diverse country, even when it comes to the weather. No matter where you find yourselves this winter, I’m sending lots of love and wishes of warmth for you all. Stay safe out there Doula Canada!

    [/vc_column_text][mk_padding_divider][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”1855″ img_size=”medium”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1572904706244{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]About the author:

    Samantha Whitman is a certified Labour and Birth Doula with Doula Training Canada, and the current Provincial Liaison for the province of Newfoundland and territory of Labrador.

    Samantha has a history of being dedicated to supporting the families of her community, previously as a paramedic and now as a doula.

    She lives in the central area of Newfoundland with her husband and son and enjoys getting outside, hiking, and exploring with her family.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]