Social Media Boundaries for Moms in Business with Social Kat Media: Social Media Boundaries for Moms in Business with Kat Tepylo Murphy

Social media boundaries for moms can feel impossible when you’re raising kids and running a business at the same time. If social media feels like another full-time job — one that never really shuts off — you’re not alone. In this episode of The Self-Made Life Podcast, I sit down with Kat Tepylo Murphy of Social Kat Media to talk about screen-time habits, content creation, and how to make marketing feel lighter without sacrificing sales.

This conversation is for you if:

• your screen time skyrocketed postpartum (been there)
• you want marketing to feel lighter, not like another full-time job
• you’re tired of tying your worth to likes and views
• you want simple content ideas that don’t require a full production team

Meet Kat Tepylo Murphy of Social Kat Media

Kat started Social Kat Media after studying advertising and realizing she wanted nothing to do with hustle-culture agency life. She fell in love with small-town “main street” businesses and saw how much potential they had on social—without needing to chase viral trends.

Today, she supports makers, local shops, and hometown service providers with strategy that actually fits their reality (and their capacity).

Listen to the full episode:

The “boss or bust” moment: planning, delegation, and making room to breathe

Kat shared a “boss moment” that honestly deserves a gold star: heading into the holiday season with an actual plan—delegating home life with her husband, protecting space for rest, and being clear on what’s not her responsibility right now.

And it sparked a really real reminder: busy seasons don’t need more pressure. They need more support.

Motherhood, entrepreneurship, and the stuff Instagram didn’t show us

Kat talked candidly about postpartum mental health and the reality of self-funded mat leave as a business owner. The expectations she saw online early on (sleepy babies, perfect nurseries, seamless “bounce back”) didn’t match what real life brought: sleep deprivation, breastfeeding logistics, keeping clients supported, and making decisions while running on fumes.

And honestly? The biggest relief is realizing: it’s not that you’re bad at this. It’s that this is hard.

Social media boundaries for moms who work in social media

Kat shared screen-time tips designed specifically around social media boundaries for moms, going far beyond just “turning off notifications.”

1) Consider a “business phone” setup

This doesn’t have to mean buying a new phone plan. If you have an old phone from an upgrade, keep it on Wi-Fi and let that be the home for:

• Instagram / TikTok
• business apps
• content tools

Then your personal phone can stay personal, and you can physically leave the business phone somewhere instead of carrying work in your pocket 24/7.

2) Put a physical “phone home” in your house

Kat literally has a dedicated box in the kitchen where phones go (especially during the chaos window after school / dinner / bedtime). The point isn’t perfection—it’s removing the reflex to grab your phone for a quick dopamine hit.

Ashley note: if you have a bread box, cute bowl, drawer—anything works. The “container” isn’t the magic. The habit is.

3) Build screen habits now (because kids are watching)

Kat shared a perspective that stuck with me: we can’t expect kids to have healthy phone boundaries if they never see us practice them.

Even if your kids are tiny, you can start creating routines now:

• where phones live
• when phones are away
• what “off duty” looks like in your home

Social media boundaries for moms who don’t have time for content

Kat’s biggest productivity shift for busy entrepreneurs:

Treat social media like part of your job

Most people try to fit social into the margins:

• at night
• between client work
• when they feel guilty for not posting

Instead, Kat recommends blocking time in your calendar so your brain isn’t constantly carrying the mental tab of “I should post.”

Batching makes your brain faster

Writing the first caption is the hardest. The second is easier. By the time you’re on number five, you’re in a rhythm.

That’s why Kat loves a weekly batching routine—and in Social with Kat Club, members cowork together on Monday mornings so content gets done before the week gets chaotic.

Tip you can steal this week: Try a Monday morning content block before the “fires” start.

The mindset shift that stops the “two likes” spiral

If you’ve ever spent time making a post and then watched it flop (painful), this part is for you.

Kat reminded us:

One post can’t do everything

Some content is meant to:

• build connection
• get saves/shares
• start conversations
  …and some content is meant to:
• sell
• send people to your website
• get DMs and inquiries

Sales content often won’t be your “best performing” post by likes—and that’s normal.

Also, people engage differently now. A lot of your audience is:

• watching quietly
• saving instead of liking
• sharing in DMs
• checking your page after a referral

Your posts are breadcrumbs. The right person follows the trail when they’re ready.

3 simple content ideas you can use this week (no aesthetic pressure)

Kat shared one of the easiest, most effective formats right now:

1) Camera roll carousel + text on screen

You don’t always need polished graphics. Grab a few photos and add quick text directly in Instagram. Examples:

• “What I’m working on this week”
• “Behind the scenes of my process”
• “Local spots I’m loving this season”
• “A quick life lately recap”

This builds connection, and connection keeps people around until they’re ready to buy.

2) A “this is for you if…” post

Write a post that calls out your ideal client in plain language. Keep it simple:

• “This is for you if your website looks fine but isn’t converting.”
• “This is for you if social media feels like a second job.”

3) A “myth vs truth” post in your niche

Pick one belief your audience has that’s keeping them stuck:

• “Myth: I need to post every day. Truth: consistency matters more than frequency.”
• “Myth: If my post doesn’t get likes, it didn’t work. Truth: sales are often quiet.”

What is Social with Kat Club?

Social with Kat Club was created for small businesses who want strategy and support—without needing to hire a full social media manager.

Inside the club, members get:

• weekly Reels prompts translated for real small businesses
• monthly group calls for feedback + strategy
• office hours
• Monday coworking sessions (batch content together)
• Slack support for questions and accountability

It’s the “I want help, but I can’t do this alone” solution.

Listen + connect with Kat

Kat is online here:

• Instagram: @socialcatmedia
• Website: socialcatmedia.com
• Podcast: Social Goals

And if you’re listening to this episode, keep an eye out—because I’ll be joining Kat on her podcast next.

Quick recap: your takeaways

• Screen time isn’t a personal failure—these apps are built to keep you scrolling.
• Physical boundaries (a business phone, a phone home) beat “willpower” most days.
• Put social on the calendar. Batching works because your brain finds momentum.
• Likes aren’t the goal for every post. Breadcrumbs build trust and lead to sales.
• Camera roll carousels are a low-effort, high-connection content win.

FAQ: Social Media Boundaries for Moms

How do I set screen-time boundaries as a business owner on social media?

Start with physical boundaries: keep social media on a separate “business phone” (even Wi-Fi only), remove email from your personal phone, and create a consistent place where phones go during family hours.

What content should I post if I don’t have time to film Reels?

Use camera-roll carousels with text on screen. They build connection, take minutes to create, and work well for service providers and small businesses.

Why do my posts get low likes even when people say they love my content?

Engagement habits have changed. Many people watch silently, save, share in DMs, or check your page after a referral—without tapping like. Track outcomes like DMs, clicks, inquiries, and sales.