Creating systems for your business while you take maternity leave
I had a baby back in August 2018.
During pregnancy, I realized that all the information about maternity leave dealt with people in corporate jobs – rarely people that work for themselves. I had to figure out everything myself (I did a LOT of deep googling). I wanted to help solopreneurs plan for maternity leave without the hassle, so created plans, worksheets, and posts to help teach others what I learned myself.
In a previous post, I talked about determining how long to take off for maternity leave and when to start your maternity leave. Pop back to that post here.
Now for the business side of things: setting up systems.
For this process I like to use three tools:
1- DELEGATING
2- DEFERRING
3- DELETING
Delegating is the first step.
For this, I used my virtual assistant to help take on tasks that were still essential to my business, but that I could not accomplish myself during this time. She responded to emails and directed potential and current clients where they need to go. You may find that you need to hire someone new, or it could be as simple as passing on your Instagram to guest takeovers. The key is delegating tasks that someone else CAN do for you while you’re out on your maternity leave.
The next step is deferring.
What should you put off until you decide to come back? These are things like new client projects, sales calls, launches, etc. -- things that all take a lot of effort and time. Let them wait until you come back fully before diving into these tasks.
The last step is deleting.
If you are not going to delegate or defer a task, then you likely just need to delete it. This can include saying no to atypical projects, deleting emails, or just letting go of your marketing plan for a few months. The question to ask yourself is, “What can I take off of my plate right now?”.
Now for the non-biz related issues:
Yes, you have a business to run while your on maternity leave, but you also have a new baby! And you need some extra care, too as you recover and adjust to your new normal. Here are some things you can set up before the baby comes:
Meal prep or request a food train from friends! You are going to be tired and extremely hungry during those first few months. At the end of a long day, it is so nice to be able to lean on someone else for dinner (or those meals you so studious froze weeks ago).
You also need to find a strong support system! Whether it be family, friends, doula, partner, etc. There is not a MORE important time for community than after the arrival of a baby.
Also, prepare for the potential onset of postpartum anxiety and depression. No one thinks it will happen, but it’s much harder to find the help you need when you’re in it. Find breastfeeding support as well. La Leche league is a good group to reach out to, and there are also some city-specific resources that may be worth looking into!
I suggest creating a list of names + numbers of support professionals you can quickly call if needed (ie: lactation consultant, post-partum doula, therapist, etc).
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