Tips For Freelancing While On Maternity Leave

I’m a freelance writer and editor with a newborn, so I know what it’s like to juggle babies and deadlines. It’s not easy! When I was on maternity leave, I had to balance the demands of my clients with the needs of my new baby. Here are some tips for how to do just that:

Navigating Pregnancy & Maternity Leave as a Freelancer

Takeaways
1. Plan ahead and communicate with clients: Notify your clients in advance about your maternity leave, discuss expectations, and make arrangements for workload management.
2. Consider adjusting your rates and workload: Evaluate your pricing structure and workload capacity during maternity leave to ensure a sustainable and balanced approach.
3. Build a support network: Seek assistance from family, friends, or freelancing communities to help you manage your workload and childcare responsibilities effectively.
4. Set realistic goals and prioritize self-care: Recognize the need to balance work and personal life during maternity leave, and establish realistic goals while prioritizing self-care and well-being.
5. Leverage technology and flexible work arrangements: Explore tools and platforms that facilitate remote work, flexible schedules, and collaborative communication to maintain productivity during maternity leave.

Table of Contents

Create Space At Home

As you enter the world of freelancing, it’s important to keep in mind that it won’t be just you and your laptop. You’re going to have a baby with you too!

If you want to make the most of your maternity leave, set up a space for yourself at home where someone else can take care of your little one.

This way, when inspiration strikes or work needs doing (and trust me: there will always be something on the go), you can focus on getting things done instead of constantly worrying about whether or not your child is okay.

This also means creating a space for them and this shouldn’t be limited only to their room. Many moms find that having a play area set up elsewhere in the house helps kids feel less confined by walls and windowsills and gives them more freedom during playtime

Building a successful freelance career while on maternity leave requires careful planning and resourcefulness. Check out our article on Ways You Can Freelance While on Maternity Leave to discover strategies and tips for balancing work and motherhood.

Time Your Baby’s Sleep Schedule To When You Need To Be Productive

Your baby’s sleep schedule is a bit of an enigma. You need to figure out when he or she will sleep, and then you have to work around it.

Your baby needs naps for at least five hours per day, which means that if you want to work during your maternity leave, the only time you could do this would be between nap times (the first and last one).

Your child’s bedtime should also be considered carefully. If they go to bed late into the night, they’ll wake up early in the morning and then again at their usual waking time so that would cut down on your productivity too much as well.

Otherwise, daytime will give you lots more freedom while still giving your child plenty of restful sleep at night!

Accept The Inevitable Ebb And Flow Of Freelancing While On Maternity Leave

The ebb and flow of freelancing while on maternity leave is normal. It’s an inevitable part of the freelance lifestyle, and it’s something that you need to accept to have a healthy work-life balance during your time off.

Freelancers need to be flexible, adaptable, and able to work around others’ schedules if they want their business to succeed.

So when your newborn arrives and suddenly every last minute of your day is spoken for (and then some), it can seem impossible at first glance that you’ll still be able to bring in any income at all. But there are ways around it as long as you’re willing!

Don’t Compare Yourself To Other Moms

You’re going to feel like the world is passing you by when you’re on maternity leave. But don’t worry, that’s just natural. The second we become mothers, we start comparing ourselves to our friends who have babies at the same time as us or those who have older kids.

We compare how quickly their babies sleep through the night without fail, or how much more content their toddlers are than ours.

We get caught up in these comparisons because we want to feel like we’re doing everything right and that our families are perfect! But remember: there’s no such thing as a perfect mommy (or daddy).

Your baby doesn’t need to sleep perfectly from day one; he just needs love and attention from the two of you.

Not only will this help relieve some stress about being a new parent, but it will also help him grow into a happy child who feels loved and secure which can make all of his milestones even sweeter down the road!

Maintaining creativity during maternity leave is essential for freelance professionals. Our guide on How to Stay Creative While Freelancing During Maternity Leave offers practical advice and inspiration to keep your creative juices flowing during this unique time.

Let Go Of Perfectionism

Let go of perfectionism. You will never be able to do everything perfectly, and your career will suffer if you try to do so.

It’s okay to make mistakes! Letting go of this mindset can help you feel more confident in your work, which will make it easier for you to get things done and feel good about what you are doing.

Remember that there is always room for improvement in any job it doesn’t have to be perfect right now. Focus on being productive rather than getting things done exactly right the first time around (which isn’t always possible anyway).

No matter how much effort or attention we put into our work, there’s always something that could use some fine-tuning or fixing later down the road that’s just part of being human!

Have A Clear Mental Checklist Of What You Want To Accomplish Each Day

The best way to ensure that you are getting the most out of your time off is to make a clear mental checklist of what you want to accomplish each day. This can feel overwhelming, but if you break down your tasks into manageable chunks, it will be much easier for you.

Try not to overdo it; start with just one or two things that are easy enough for you to complete so that when the day is over, there will still be some sense of accomplishment at the end of it all.

Be Realistic About How Much You Can Do In A Given Timeframe

This is something that freelancers have to do all the time—we have to be able to discern when we are being unrealistic about what we can accomplish, and when we’re working at our best.

If you’re going into maternity leave thinking “I’m going to get so much done,” it is almost guaranteed that this will not happen. Freelancers need to realize that it’s OK if they don’t get as much done as they planned, or even less than that!

This doesn’t make them any less of a great worker or person; it just means your brain isn’t functioning at full capacity right now because of hormones and sleep deprivation (and probably other reasons too).

When I was on maternity leave, I found that even though my productivity had slowed down immensely compared with pre-baby days, my quality of work had gone up because my brain was able to focus better without an infant screaming at me all day long!

Are you a freelance writer contemplating maternity leave? Discover valuable insights and guidance in our article on How to Be a Freelance Writer on Maternity Leave to successfully navigate the challenges of balancing writing projects with the demands of being a new parent.

Stop Feeling Guilty About Not Working Every Waking Minute

Maternity leave is a chance to relax and recharge, but that doesn’t mean it’s time to veg out. And even if you do choose not to work during your maternity leave, that’s still fine too!

It’s important not to feel guilty about taking time off and even more important not to feel guilty about not working as much as you used to.

Plus, when it comes time for your next gig, I’m sure your employer will be impressed by the fact that you’ve been able to find other ways of making money than just sitting at a desk full-time all day long!

Make Sure You’re Prepared For Your Doctor’s Appointment So That You Can Ask All The Questions Necessary Without Scrambling Beforehand

While there’s no way to predict what your doctor will say in the course of your appointment, it’s important to be prepared with questions beforehand. That way, you’ll be able to ask them all at once and if you have any time left over, you can also discuss any other issues that come up.

To make sure your visit goes as smoothly as possible, try asking these questions:

What should I expect during the first few weeks? How often will my baby need feeding and changing? How long should I wait before traveling with him or her in public? Do we need to create a schedule right away?

Will breastfeeding pose any challenges for me or my child (for example, sore nipples)? If so, how can I get help overcoming those issues when they arise (e.g., from lactation consultants at hospitals)?

Is there anything else I should know about taking care of my newborn (e.g., how much sleep is too little/too much)?

Make A Plan For Childcare So That You Can Have Time To Work Uninterrupted If The Need Arises

Make a plan for childcare so that you can have time to work uninterrupted if the need arises.

Don’t forget the importance of having backup childcare in case things go wrong. Even if you’re not planning on working while on maternity leave, it’s smart to put a plan in place just in case something comes up and your child(ren) needs care.

Prepare for the unexpected by making sure someone else can help out if needed even if it’s as simple as having someone who can come over and watch them while they’re sleeping and then take them home at night so that your husband doesn’t have to do it alone!

Don’t Isolate Yourself From Other New Moms And Parents, As They’ll Be A Huge Part Of Your Network And Support System In The Future

As a new mom, you will be bombarded with advice and mentorship from other moms. You mustn’t isolate yourself from these people. They’ll be part of your network in the future (and hey, they’re pretty darn great to have now).

While your daughter or son may not be at an age where they’re ready to go out into the world on their own yet, you should start building up a support system of friends who have kids around the same age and can help each other out when needed.

A lot of times this can mean just talking about how difficult it is to leave your child at home while going out for dinner or drinks after work!

Working from home as a transcriptionist offers flexibility and convenience. If you’re interested in pursuing this career path, our article on Tips to Work from Home as a Transcriptionist provides practical tips, resources, and guidance to help you get started on the right track.

Establish A Routine That Works For Both You And Your Baby, So That You’re Productive During The Day And Can Enjoy Some Downtime In The Evening With Him Or Her

How to do this? First, figure out when and how much time it takes for you to get organized each morning.

Then, have a work schedule (with breaks!) that fits into those parameters. You might start by planning an hour or two of work each morning before heading out to drop off or pick up your child at school.

If this sounds too long, consider splitting up your tasks: get ready while he or she naps and then finish up any extra administrative tasks at night after bedtime rituals are complete.

When it comes to establishing a routine, let go of perfectionism! As long as there’s consistency in what you do each day and don’t worry if some things slip through the cracks.

You’ll be able to juggle everything else that life throws at you without stressing too much about staying on top of everything all the time; instead, focus on enjoying all the fun parts of being a mommy!

New Moms Who Are Freelancing While On Maternity Leave Should Take The Time They Need, But Also Make Sure They’re Being Realistic About What They Can Accomplish

While you’re on maternity leave, it’s important to remember that you are not a superwoman and that it is okay to take the time you need. Don’t feel guilty about taking the time off. You’ll be better for both your baby and yourself if you take care of yourself first.

However, don’t isolate yourself from other new moms and parents during this time you will miss out on valuable advice, support, and networking opportunities if you do so!

It can also be helpful to try some meal delivery services or meal planning apps like HelloFresh or Blue Apron when cooking meals at home after giving birth.

This way, all of the ingredients are conveniently delivered right to your door each week and all of the recipes come with easy-to-follow instructions for how much food each item makes (and what other ingredients might go well with it).

You should also make sure that everything is prepared ahead of time before going back into work mode after having a baby:

Arrange childcare; prepare bottles; stock up on nutritious snacks; put together diaper bag essentials such as wipes or diapers; etcetera…(here’s where things get real!)

If possible (and safe), establish a routine with your partner or caregiver that works best for both parties in terms of getting out the door as early as possible so everyone gets home at an appropriate time without feeling rushed.

But still making use of every minute until then by doing something enjoyable together such as reading books aloud while sitting under trees while eating ice cream cones made just like those in our memories when we were kids growing up.

Many expectant mothers wonder about the possibility of working from home during pregnancy. To explore the pros and cons and make an informed decision, read our insightful article on Should You Work from Home While Pregnant? and discover important factors to consider before transitioning to a remote work setup.

Conclusion

As new babies grow, their needs change. You may not be able to answer every email or return every phone call, but don’t let that make you feel guilty about being a mom who’s also a freelancer.

Just focus on what you can do each day rather than what you can’t do, and remember that there will be times when you’re back at work full-time that won’t allow for much flexibility either way so enjoy this period while it lasts.

FAQs

Here are some frequently asked questions about freelancing and maternity leave:

How does maternity leave work for freelancers?

Freelancers typically do not have access to traditional maternity leave benefits provided by employers. However, there are strategies to plan for time off, secure financial support, and manage client relationships during maternity leave.

Can freelancers claim maternity pay?

Freelancers may be eligible for maternity pay through government schemes, such as maternity allowance. It’s important to understand the eligibility criteria and application process for these benefits.

How should freelancers prepare for maternity leave?

Freelancers can prepare for maternity leave by notifying clients in advance, planning their workload and finances, arranging for backup support, and setting realistic expectations with clients and collaborators.

How can freelancers maintain client relationships during maternity leave?

Maintaining open communication with clients, setting clear expectations, and having a backup plan in place are crucial for freelancers to sustain client relationships during maternity leave. Regular updates and transparent communication help in managing client expectations.

What are the legal rights of freelancers regarding maternity leave?

The legal rights of freelancers regarding maternity leave vary depending on the country and local regulations. Freelancers should familiarize themselves with the applicable laws, such as maternity allowances, parental leave, and discrimination protection, to ensure they are aware of their rights and entitlements.

Costantine Edward

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.