Planning for Maternity Leave as a Freelancer
As we enter Q1, our incredible partnerships manager Jenny is off on maternity leave. This got me thinking about how I would plan for maternity leave and juggle a little bub alongside business. There’s no doubt, that taking a step back from the career you’ve worked hard to build can be scary, especially for us self-employed folks as we don’t have the same access to maternity leave as 9 to 5ers. We asked our wonderful community for some tips on how they take mat leave as a freelancer, along with doing my own research we’ve left a few helpful tips to consider if you’re expecting or thinking about growing your family this year.
Plan Ahead
First things first, how much time are you taking off? This is personal to everyone, some people take two months, others six. Once you’ve decided on a timeframe that feels right for you, you can dive into preparing your finances. Start by saving as much as you can during your pregnancy. I love listening to She’s On The Money, for financial advice (from a legit financial advisor). Explore if you’re eligible for any paid government maternity leave schemes, bearing in mind these payments are usually minimum wage so having your savings buffer is great to supplement. Some freelancers choose to set up passive income streams by selling courses, templates, eBooks or affiliate marketing. Folks with a few retainer clients could discuss completing work in advance to maintain an income stream while you’re away. Finally, review your budget and cull anything you won't be using while you’re offline.
Keeping The Wheels Turning
Taking extended periods off your business can be daunting, especially when you’ve invested substantial time and effort into building your client base. When you feel comfortable let your clients know about your exciting news, manage their expectations by detailing your leave duration and what they can expect. Consider offering to complete work ahead of time and utilize out-of-office emails. If you would like to keep things moving while you’re away you could consider hiring a temporary staff member through our Jobs Board. For insights on hiring your first freelancer, check out our blog.
Transitioning Back to Work
Transitioning back to work post maternity leave can be complex, so much has changed now you have a newborn in the mix. Don’t pressure yourself to dive back into full-time hours straight away; caring for a small human is a full-time job in itself. Initially, consider coming back part-time, aligning with your body's needs and energy levels. Leverage the wonderful flexibility that freelancing gives to work around your baby's schedule. Have a few loose contingency plans set up in case your little one gets sick or you have a few sleepless nights. There may be days you plan on working but then can’t - that’s okay. Keep communicating openly with your clients about what’s happening, most will be understanding and it will take stress off your plate. Most importantly, remember to take care of yourself. Give yourself a break, sleep when you’re tired and stop working when you don’t feel up to it. Raising a little one is emotionally and physically tiring, so lean on the community and ask for support when needed.
Advice from our Freelancing Females Community:
‘Maternity leave sucks. And it’s not just me who thinks so. New mom and tennis star Naomi Osaka recently made news, reportedly “shocked” at US women’s lack of maternity leave options. So, she launched an ad campaign with parenting brand Bobbie to help spread awareness.
It goes without saying, but if Naomi Osaka, a world-famous, well-resourced mom, is concerned about her maternity leave experience, then you can bet not-so-famous women like you and me are certainly left scrambling for relief after being pregnant and giving birth, especially if you’re a freelancer and 100% responsible for your financial, mental and physical well-being. It can be A LOT to deal with.
In true freelancer fashion though, we will always find a way out of no way—-and this is no different.
In fact, the stakes are much higher. Because without the proper post-partum care and space to process your new world, new mothers are all but destined to struggle—-bad. Take it from me. A 10 percenter who was diagnosed with mastitis, only 10 days into my breastfeeding journey. A 14-day looming “return to work” date, further underscored and exacerbated my breastfeeding journey, increasing my already high anxiety and negative self-talk— symptoms of the external and invisible pressures society so graciously cloaks on new moms without our permission.
But, as I roll into year two of motherhood, I can honestly rejoice in my current reality— proudly releasing the need to perform or “be a good mom.” Realizing that the only way to achieve relief and peace next time is to simply take a break. *que 22 weeks of maternity leave*. That said, here are my top insights and tips for navigating maternity leave as a freelancer and new mom.
Save as much money as YOU can.
Money doesn’t solve all problems, but it will pay for Instacart, in-house massages, nannies/doulas, laundry service, meal prep, etc. Money buys time —and time is all you need those first few weeks. Price all your essentials, multiply by 12 weeks (at least) and start building your nest egg.
Take it easy on the “snap back”.
Don’t do it to yourself. Please. Take your time and HEAL. Your body, mind, and spirit will thank you for it.
Talk about household chores BEFORE the baby arrives.
Once the dust settles and all the guests leave, you and your family will be there only ones there. Make sure everyone knows their role to help in mitigating disagreements, conflict and idle hands. You shouldn’t be responsible for cooking, cleaning, managing the house or caring for the other children. If you have a partner, they need to step up. If you don’t have a partner, use the money you saved to get a nanny or post-partum doula.
Find a community of women outside of your family that you can trust
Connecting with other women via California’s Black Infant Health program was a lifesaver. Finding an objective tribe and opening your heart up to them can be the best medicine on a lonely, post-partum day. There is healing in shared experiences—share yours!’
‘I let clients know when I was about four or five months along and went into each conversation prepared and intentional, with my message being, “I’m due [DATE], and plan on working full-time until the end of the month or a baby, whichever comes first. I plan to return to full-time work on [DATE] and look forward to continuing work together then’. I also clarified that I planned to check my email (albeit not regularly and I had an out-of-office message up) throughout my leave to answer any “where is this file”/”who is the contact for XYZ” sorts of questions, as well as begin to deal with new contacts for the new fiscal year toward the end.
-Allison
‘PLEASE tell your community about state-level paid funds for self-employed people, i.e NYSIF for paid leave in NY state. Sometimes you have to buy in a year or two in advance before eligibility.’
-Anna
