What I Learned From Freelancing While On Maternity Leave

I’ll admit that it was a bit of a surprise when I found myself pregnant with my first child. Even more surprising? The fact that, mere weeks after giving birth, I had to jump back into the busy and hectic world of freelance writing.

Struggling to figure out how to meet deadlines and make time for clients became even more difficult once I started mothering a newborn.

Luckily, I figured out some ways to manage this new situation that might be useful if you’re expecting or recently had your first child and still have a baby brain (like me). Here are some tips for being productive while also making sure your clients’ needs get met:

Navigating Pregnancy & Maternity Leave as a Freelancer

Takeaways
Maternity leave as a freelancer requires careful planning and preparation.
It’s essential to communicate with clients about your maternity leave plans in advance.
Delegating or outsourcing tasks can help maintain client relationships during your absence.
Financial planning is crucial to ensure a smooth transition during maternity leave.
Gradually easing back into work after maternity leave is important for a successful return.

Table of Contents

1. You Don’t Need To Be In Office To Be Productive

One of the biggest advantages of freelancing while on maternity leave is you don’t need to be in the office, or even at a desk, to be productive.

I think we can all agree that working from home is an awesome thing. I’m not just talking about the coffee shop-free days.

But also about being able to work when it’s convenient for you instead of having to fight rush hour traffic or take time off for doctor appointments (and who has time for that?).

You could be taking care of your baby while still making progress on your project what better way would there be?

For me, working from home meant avoiding other people altogether. When I was employed full-time with many co-workers in different departments around me and constantly meeting with clients face-to-face.

My distractions were endless: emails popping up on my phone during meetings; colleagues stopping by my desk during lunch breaks; phone calls from friends inviting me out to lunch the list goes on and on!

Working from home allowed me time away from all these things without feeling guilty about neglecting responsibilities or doing work improperly because I wasn’t focused enough

When it comes to freelancing while on maternity leave, it’s essential to have a plan in place. Our comprehensive guide on how to freelance while on maternity leave offers valuable insights and practical tips to help you navigate this unique professional journey.

2. Work From Home Is All About Productivity, Not Face Time

When you work from home, no bosses or coworkers are looking over your shoulder. You don’t need to worry about keeping your desk tidy or putting a dent in the corporate dress code. And if it’s raining outside, can you just stay inside? Sure! You might even get paid for it!

But when you work from home, there are also no HR policies dictating how long and hard you can work each day. There is no one to tell you to take a break or give praise when things go well.

It can be easy to fall into the trap of thinking that working from home means being lazy and not getting anything done all day long but this couldn’t be further from the truth! When you’re freelancing remotely (whether full-time or part-time).

It pays off big time if you are productive during these hours spent at home by yourself with only your laptop and headphones as a company and this is something that I struggled with when I first started as a freelance writer after becoming a mommy blogger myself

3. Set Some Work Hours And Let People Know When You’ll Be Available Via Email Or Phone

It’s important to set clear boundaries for yourself so that people know when you’re available to take calls and respond to emails.

During the early days of my maternity leave, I was so starved for human interaction that I would answer calls at 11 pm without thinking twice about it and often find myself still awake at 2 am when a client was on the phone with me!

It didn’t take long for me to realize this wasn’t sustainable (or healthy) for either party involved. Now I have specific hours where I’m available by email or phone and those are the only times anyone can reach me outside of those hours unless it’s an emergency.

4. Use Batching For Longer Deep-Focus Tasks Like Writing, Editing, And Creating Content For Social Media

Batching is a time management trick that’s been around since long before we had computers. It involves grouping similar tasks together into blocks of time and working on them in succession with the help of a timer or calendar reminder.

For example: if you want to write an article on Monday morning, set aside 15 minutes each day of this week to research the topic before writing it out.

You could also set up another block of 45 minutes when you know you’ll have some downtime (say after dinner) where you can spend half an hour rereading your draft and doing any final edits before sending it off to be published online or emailed out as part of a newsletter mailing campaign.

The key here is not only setting aside enough time during your workday but also blocking it off using reminders so there are no distractions during this focused period (such as answering emails).

Balancing freelancing and pregnancy can be challenging, but it’s possible to stay productive and on track. Learn practical tips and advice in our guide on freelancing when pregnant: how to stay on track while you’re expecting to ensure a successful freelance journey during this important phase of life.

5. Keep Your Professional Persona Separate From Your One

Keeping your professional and personal lives separate is important. If you’re talking about work at home, your partner will be able to tell if it’s a good or bad day for you. And if you’re talking about your baby at work, it can get awkward when your coworkers don’t know what to say back.

There are many instances in which it would make sense to talk about one side of yourself with someone on the other side for example if they’re an old friend from college who doesn’t have children and has no idea what they’re like or what goes into caring for them.

But there are also times when it’s better not to bring up either aspect of yourself with another person until you’ve built something more substantial than a casual relationship with them;

This may require taking some physical distance from each other during these conversations (e.g., leaving the room) or simply refraining from saying too much in general (e.g., by saying nothing more than “That sounds nice!”).

6. Meetings Are Still Going To Happen, But You’ll Need To Do Your Part To Make Them More Efficient And Easier On Everyone Involved

Sometimes, your boss will want to meet with you during the day. The good news is that if they’re willing to let you work from home, they’ll probably be willing to schedule an early-morning or late-afternoon meeting. The bad news?

These kinds of meetings can still be incredibly disruptive. If someone else had been assigned the task of writing up an agenda and scheduling a time and place for the meeting.

That would make it easier on everyone involved and since this is your job as well now, it should be taken off your plate as much as possible.

Set up a specific location for these meetings (most phones have apps for this). You can also set up different locations across town in case someone needs to meet at another office location from time to time (like when one person works from home).

7. Get A Good Deal On Childcare For The Days You Have Meetings Or Long Deadlines Looming Over Your Head

I found that it was much easier to work during the day if I had childcare set up for my daughter. I’m not sure how people do it without this, but even if you have a babysitter who comes to your home, keep in mind that they probably have other clients as well.

If your sitter is busy with another client while you need them, they may be able to bring another sitter into their schedule but this can cost more money!

If you don’t want to spend extra money on someone else watching your child (which is understandable), consider getting a parent friend, or relative to watch her while you work.

You can also look into hiring a nanny or babysitter just for the days when deadlines are looming over your head and/or meetings are scheduled at all hours of the day and night.

Looking to start freelance design work while on paternity leave? Our article on how I started freelance design work while on paternity leave shares personal experiences and practical advice to inspire and guide you through this exciting endeavor.

8. Whatever You Can’t Do Because Of The Baby, Delegate!

Once the baby has arrived and you’ve been home for a while, it can sometimes feel like your time is more limited than ever. You’re still recovering from birth and nursing, which means that sometimes you have to rest or take care of the baby when they need it.

If you’re lucky enough to have family staying with you during this time, they may be able to help out with some of these tasks but if not, then it’s up to you and your partner (or whoever else is around)

However, one thing that should never be delegated is what goes on in your freelance business: writing quotes for clients; working on new projects; communicating with clients via email or chat; etc.

These are all things that are essential for running an effective freelance business! With all this extra work coming in from having a newborn who needs constant attention as well as caring for other children (if applicable).

Finding time to do everything yourself can quickly become overwhelming. Here are some ways I’ve found helpful when delegating tasks:

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9. Don’t Feel Pressured To Bring Your Baby To Meetings If They Aren’t In An Office Setting Or If She’s Prone To Crying (A Lot)

If you are a freelancer and your baby is still a baby, chances are she isn’t going to be comfortable in an office setting. If you work from home and have family or friends around to help, then it might be okay for her to come along.

But if not, don’t feel pressured into bringing her just because it’s “normal” or “expected.” You’re allowed to work on the couch while she watches cartoons in another room!

You’re allowed to bring her with you when you go out running errands! You’re allowed to stay home when necessary (even if no one else is staying home)!

It may be helpful for your boss/client/etc. if they know what kind of flexibility they can expect before signing up for your services; so let them know right away that any meetings will most likely need to happen over video chat because there will be some crying involved otherwise.

This way everyone knows what’s going on up front rather than having it come up later as an awkward surprise for both parties involved.

10. Be Honest With Yourself And With Clients About Whether You Can Hit A Deadline That Seems Doable In Theory

Don’t be afraid to tell a client that you need more time than they are offering.

You can do this by asking for more time at the start of a project or even when you get close to your deadline and realize it’s not realistic.

If you don’t communicate with your client, they might assume everything is fine, and then suddenly hear from someone else (or worse yet from the client herself) that she’s not happy with how long things have taken.

It’s much better to talk about what is going on upfront rather than letting things drag on unnecessarily.

Asking for more time upfront allows both parties some breathing room and ensures that everyone feels like they’re working in good faith toward an achievable goal together.

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Conclusion

What I learned working through maternity leave is that changing your career path doesn’t have to be all or nothing. Through the power of freelancing, I was able to get my foot in the door at an awesome company without giving up any of the benefits of being at home with my newborn son. I found that working for a remote company gave me more flexibility as a mom than I would have had in a traditional office setting and more time to spend with him than if I’d had two separate jobs.

FAQs

Here are some frequently asked questions related to freelancing and maternity leave:

How does maternity leave affect freelancers?

Maternity leave can have unique implications for freelancers, as they don’t have the same employee benefits and protections as traditional employees. It requires careful planning and financial considerations to ensure a smooth transition during this period.

Can freelancers take maternity leave?

Yes, freelancers can take maternity leave, but the specifics and available benefits vary depending on the country, local regulations, and the freelancer’s individual circumstances. It’s essential to understand the legal framework and plan accordingly.

How can freelancers prepare financially for maternity leave?

Freelancers can prepare financially for maternity leave by creating a savings plan, setting aside a portion of their income, and considering alternative sources of income during this period. Exploring insurance options and consulting with financial advisors can also be beneficial.

What steps can freelancers take to maintain client relationships during maternity leave?

To maintain client relationships during maternity leave, freelancers can communicate their plans in advance, delegate or outsource tasks, provide clear expectations, and ensure seamless handovers. Setting up automated email responses and establishing temporary support systems can also be helpful.

How can freelancers transition back to work after maternity leave?

Returning to work after maternity leave as a freelancer requires careful planning and gradually easing back into the workload. Communicating with clients, adjusting schedules, and considering childcare arrangements are important aspects of the transition process.

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.