When I was pregnant with my second child, I started to worry about what would happen when my maternity leave came to an end. After all, going back to work after you’ve taken time off to care for a baby is hard enough but going back full-time? That felt impossible.
The more I thought about it, the more I realized that returning to a nine-to-five schedule wasn’t feasible for our family. So instead of re-entering the workforce full-time once my leave ended, I decided that I wanted to freelance part-time.
Becoming a freelancer isn’t for everyone; there are plenty of pros and cons that come along with it. But if you’re on maternity leave and seriously considering doing some freelance work in place of returning to your job on a regular schedule, here’s what you need to know:
| Takeaways |
|---|
| Freelancing during maternity leave offers flexibility |
| Balancing work and family responsibilities is challenging |
| Freelancing can provide additional income during leave |
| Maintaining client relationships may require adjustments |
| Setting boundaries is essential for a successful balance |
Pro: You Can Work From Home
One of the pros of freelancing on maternity leave is that you can work from anywhere. This means you can work at home, in the park, at the beach or even from a coffee shop if that’s what you prefer.
You don’t have to worry about getting dressed up and leaving the house when you’re working as a freelance writer because it’s all done remotely!
The best part about this is that when I’m working as a freelancer I get to spend more time with my son. He loves going for long walks with me and watching me type away on my laptop while he plays with his toys nearby.
It’s really nice having him around while I’m working since he doesn’t disturb me like other people sometimes do (like when they come into your office without knocking).
Freelancing offers a unique opportunity to balance work and personal life, even during significant life events like maternity leave. Learn how to navigate freelancing while on maternity leave in our insightful article on The Pros & Cons of Freelancing While on Maternity Leave and make the most of this flexible career choice.
Con: A Work-Life Balance Can Be Hard To Achieve
One drawback to freelancing while on maternity leave is that the balance between your personal life and work may become a challenge to maintain.
While you can work whenever and anywhere, it’s important to set limits for yourself regarding how much time you spend working each day. As with any job, it is easy to get wrapped up in your project or take on more than you can handle.
To ensure that this doesn’t happen, give yourself an end date for each day’s work so that when 5 o’clock rolls around (or whatever time works best for you), that’s when the computers go off and everything shuts down until tomorrow morning.
If possible, talk with other freelancers who are also mothers about how they manage their personal lives with their business; their advice should prove helpful as well!
Pro: Freelancing Will Help You Develop New Skills
One of the main benefits of freelancing while on maternity leave is that it will help you develop new skills.
As a freelancer, you’ll have more opportunities to learn new things and develop existing skills than if you were working in an office or other traditional work setting.
When working from home, you can choose what kinds of projects to accept and who to work with based on your interests, passions, and values which means that each project will be different from the last.
You’ll also get to know new people because there’s no set time when meetings are scheduled you can talk any time as needed (and if need be). You could even continue working with past clients after taking maternity leave!
Con: Your Time Is Limited
One thing you have to factor in is time. This is a main con of freelancing while on maternity leave: your time isn’t unlimited, and as a result, it’s easy for things to get overwhelming.
You’ll need to set aside time for your baby, of course you don’t want him or her to feel neglected!
But also make sure you carve out some quality time for yourself so that you’re not constantly relying on others. It’s important to take care of yourself during this period; otherwise, you might succumb to depression or stress (or both).
You’ll also need some time each day dedicated specifically to your business even if it’s just an hour or two at first so that when clients contact you they won’t get frustrated by the delay in response times.
Last but not least are friends and family members who deserve at least some attention as well; if they’ve been supporting/helping out during this whole ordeal then it would be rude not give them back what they gave us!
Managing an Upwork freelance job requires organization and effective communication. Our guide on What I’ve Learned About Managing an Upwork Freelance Job offers valuable tips and insights to enhance your freelancing experience on this popular platform.
Pro: You Can Take Breaks Whenever You Feel Like It
You can take a break whenever you need one.
If there’s a point in the day where you’re feeling overwhelmed, or if your boss is asking you to do things that make no sense (like clean up dog poop with a Q-tip).
Or even if one of those big hairy spiders keeps crawling out from under the desk and scaring all the other employees, nothing is stopping you from taking an hour off as long as it doesn’t interfere with your duties.
You Can Take A Break Whenever You Want To
Do whatever makes sense for you at any given time. If that means working late into the night while everyone else is asleep in their beds because it’s easier than commuting home and then having to wake up early again, go right ahead!
And if it means eating lunch alone outside so that nobody sees how much food is going into your mouth? Go for it!
There are no rules here (except for telling people about this amazing opportunity) just do what works best for each person involved with this project (you).
Con: Clients Or Customers May Not Understand That Your Circumstances Have Changed
When you return to work after maternity leave, your clients and customers will be expecting you to be available at the same rates and under the same conditions that they were used to.
However, clients may not understand that their circumstances have changed. They might expect you to continue working at the same rate while being available 24/7.
These expectations may result in some friction if they aren’t met. If their project requires a lot of time or attention (and it probably will), then they may become frustrated when they don’t get what they want from you right away because of your new schedule as a parent.
In addition, if multiple projects are going on simultaneously that requires lots of focus and intensity.
Like writing an ebook or managing several clients could become frustrated with how much attention is being diverted away from them due to outside influences like childcare responsibilities or family needs (or both).
Pro: It Can Feel Good To Put Your Professional Skills To Use
You’ve probably heard that it is important to feel productive when you are on maternity leave. There are a lot of reasons for this, but I think the main reason is that people need to feel like they are contributing and making a difference in the world.
It can be hard to do that if you’re just sitting around watching TV all day with your baby (although some mothers do this successfully).
But freelancing from home makes it easier because you can work whenever you have time, which gives you more flexibility in how much time you spend working each day.
So that no matter how tired or stressed out or overwhelmed by your new responsibilities as a mother, there will always be some part of your day where working at least feels good!
Embracing freelancing can help individuals overcome the fear of missing out on life’s precious moments. Discover how freelancing empowers people to live life on their terms in our article on How Freelancing Helps People in Reducing the Fear of Missing Out and seize the opportunities it offers.
Con: Freelancing While On Maternity Leave Is Still Work And Sometimes, It’s Hard Work
As a freelancer, you’re still accountable for your work. If you don’t complete it, or if your work is subpar because of poor health or other issues, clients will notice and they’ll be unhappy.
So even though your job can be more flexible than a typical full-time position, that doesn’t mean there are no consequences if you don’t do everything in your power to get the job done on time and well.
The same goes for any other aspect of being self-employed: Mommy bloggers who have taken maternity leave must worry about finding readership while they’re away from the blogosphere (or risk losing the audience they’ve built up).
Or small business owners who have left their jobs need to use their free time wisely to keep their businesses running smoothly while also taking care of new babies at home (so they can avoid burning out).
Pro: You Can Establish Yourself As A Freelancer Before Returning To Work Full-Time
Freelancing while on maternity leave is a great way to get started in your career. If you want to establish yourself as a freelancer before returning to work full-time, this is an excellent way of doing so.
It’s also an opportunity for you to try out working from home, which can be helpful if your employer offers flexi-time options or telecommuting.
Freelancing allows you the flexibility of setting your schedule and bidding on projects that match your skill set and interests.
Not only does this give you experience working with different clients but it can also help build up a reputation for yourself as well as give you insight into what it’s like being self-employed for longer periods (i.e., the pros/cons).
Con: Working While Caring For A Baby Is Exhausting
A major drawback to freelancing while on maternity leave is the physical toll it takes. You’re likely already exhausted from caring for your new baby, and taking on work projects can be stressful and exhausting.
While you may want to earn some extra income, it’s important to choose projects that suit your schedule. If you’re only able to take on small tasks or projects that can be completed in an hour or two, this is a good option for working parents who are taking care of newborns.
Pro: You Can Use Your Maternity Leave As A Trial Period For Setting Up A Freelancing Business
You can use your maternity leave as a trial period for setting up a freelancing business. Freelancing is different from working at a traditional job, and it might take some time to figure out how to make it work for you.
If you start freelancing early enough in your pregnancy, you’ll have time to try things out before returning to work.
Pro: You Can Use Your Maternity Leave As A Trial Period For Setting Up A Freelancing Business
You may find that the flexibility of working from home is just what you need while raising young children (or caring for older ones), but some people don’t like the lack of structure or regular feedback from bosses and coworkers.
If this describes you, then starting with freelancing may be ideal because it gives you time to adjust and see if this lifestyle works for you before committing fully!
Don’t let summer fun hinder your freelancing success! Learn how to manage freelancing commitments while enjoying the summer season by reading our practical tips in the post Freelancing During the Summer: Can I Do Both? and make the most of your work-life balance.
Con: Leaving Your Full-Time Job Requires Negotiating With Clients Who Are Accustomed To Working With You At Your Former Rates And Under Certain Conditions
Leaving your full-time job requires negotiating with clients who are accustomed to working with you at your former rates and under certain conditions. Your client may not be happy with the new rates, or that you’re now willing to work from home.
They may not be happy with the new conditions: that they have to contact you directly instead of through your boss, for example, or that they can’t always contact you via email during business hours. It’s also possible that they simply don’t like change and this is one big change!
Whatever the reason for their resistance, it’s important for freelancers on maternity leave to remember that there’s an opportunity cost associated with sticking around in a non-ideal situation (i.e., putting up with lower pay or less-than-ideal work hours).
That said, some clients may need time before they’re okay with moving forward without a regular employee in place.
So make sure there is room in your project budget for this potential transition period before deciding whether or not it makes sense financially and emotionally!
Pro: Freelancing During Maternity Leave Gives You The Freedom To Choose What You Work On And When You Work On It
Freelancing gives you the freedom to choose what you work on and when you work on it. This is a huge advantage of freelancing while on maternity leave because if you’re not interested in working on a project, there’s no obligation.
You may be better at one type of project than another. For example, if you are an accountant who specializes in auditing financial statements but doesn’t have much experience with tax preparation or bookkeeping tasks.
Then it makes sense for your practice to focus exclusively on audits rather than offer services from multiple areas of accounting and that means limiting the number of clients (full-time employees) or projects (freelance consulting) that come through your doors each day.
There are projects out there that you can complete quickly and earn more money per hour than others due to their complexity or value proposition;
These projects may not be worth doing as part-time work since they require less time but still provide high rates for those willing to do them full-time.
Wondering how to make your freelancing career complement your travel aspirations? Check out our article on How I Used Freelancing to Go on Vacation Around the World and discover how freelancing can fuel your wanderlust and fund your adventures.
Conclusion
If you’re considering freelancing during your maternity leave, don’t be discouraged by the cons. Freelancing can be an excellent way to maintain your professional skills, build up a network of clients, and make money while spending time with your baby.
With the right mindset and good communication skills, you can minimize some of the cons we’ve covered here. And when in doubt or if you just need a little encouragement (or a big reminder), don’t forget that this is only temporary!
In a few months or even sooner! you can return to work if you choose to do so. So set aside any worries and enjoy this special time with your little one; after all, they won’t be small for very long!
Further Reading
Travel Anika – The Pros and Cons of Freelancing: Explore the advantages and disadvantages of freelancing, providing insights into the freelance lifestyle.
Rock Content Blog – Pros and Cons of Freelancing: Discover the pros and cons of freelancing and gain valuable tips for navigating the freelancing world.
Bizcommunity – The Pros and Cons of Freelancing: Read about the upsides and downsides of freelancing and learn how to make the most of freelancing opportunities.
FAQs
Q: Can I continue freelancing while on maternity leave?
A: Yes, freelancers have the flexibility to continue working during maternity leave, but it depends on the individual’s health and workload.
Q: How can freelancing help reduce the fear of missing out?
A: Freelancing offers the freedom to create your schedule, allowing individuals to participate in events and activities they might otherwise miss.
Q: Is it possible to balance freelancing and summer activities?
A: Yes, freelancers can adapt their schedules to enjoy summer activities while still meeting client commitments.
Q: What are some tips for managing an Upwork freelance job effectively?
A: Effective management of an Upwork freelance job involves clear communication, setting expectations, and delivering quality work on time.
Q: How can freelancing be a source of income during travel?
A: Freelancing enables individuals to work remotely, making it possible to earn income while traveling and exploring new destinations.
Costantine Edward is a digital marketing expert, freelance writer, and entrepreneur who helps people attain financial freedom. I’ve been working in marketing since I was 18 years old and have managed to build a successful career doing what I love.