Keeping Balanced on Maternity Leave (as a self employed person)
Since being back at work I've been reflecting on maternity leave as a self employed person. The first time I went on maternity leave (four years ago) was very different as I was on maternity leave from a full time job, and this time I've been navigating keeping a business running, whilst keeping to the guidelines of taking maternity leave!
This time I knew I wanted to take 8 months off, which is a long time to be away from a business! Luckily the way my work is structured meant that I could take time away, use Keeping in Touch (KIT) days to see my regular clients and ask Abby (who project manages Super Seconds Festival for me) to hold the fort with everything else!
Here's a run down of how I kept my brain ticking for 8 months whilst off work - I say all of this whilst acknowledging what a privilege it is to have savings and a supportive partner.
Some mornings, getting my eldest to nursery felt like a mission, but having a routine that got us out of the house first thing was a lifesaver. My best days started with a long walk – ideally with a coffee in hand while my baby napped.
The first 10 weeks were tough, and I experienced intense postnatal anxiety, mainly focused on worrying about my son’s wellbeing through the winter. By giving myself permission to slow down and acknowledging those feelings, I was able to process them. Therapy was also a huge support.
This time around, I intentionally left space to rest and take care of myself, even if that just meant enjoying the moments when the baby napped on me. Sleep deprivation is no joke, and during those early days, I leaned into watching a lot of TV (and loved it!). New mums (me included!) hate the term ‘sleep when the baby sleeps’, but on the occasions I managed it it felt like a gamechanger.
I carefully planned my KIT days, knowing I only had 10 to use. I mixed catching up with regular clients with new opportunities, like giving a talk at Leeds Arts University and doing a photoshoot with Fran Hennessey Creative. I resisted the urge to fill the days with my long 5 hour strategy sessions, and I’m so glad I did. My son was still feeding every two hours and often joined me for meetings - big thanks to my understanding clients!
I attended lovely events like a poetry event for parents and a Leeds Food Tour parent and baby event. But I didn't overbook my calendar and tried to only attend big events now and then. Unlike my first maternity leave, where I overbooked my calendar, I paced myself this time – and it made all the difference.
I kept my mind ticking over by reading and listening to thought-provoking business books and writing blog posts about them – like Start with Why and Feel Good Productivity. It gave me a gentle sense of connection to my business without the pressure of being “on” and actually working.
Finding spaces such as Little Seedlings felt like home to me and anchored my week. I'm still going to be off for several days a week and will continue to spend time in nurturing spaces like these. Spending time with friends was also an incredible lifeline.
I did ask for help to carve out a bit of time for myself, though I’ll admit I could have asked more. My early post natal anxiety made it hard to hand my baby over at first. Huge thanks to my husband, my mum, and Rachel (The Lactation Consultant Leeds) for their incredible support.
Perhaps the biggest lesson of all: I tried to ignore external opinions (not easy!) and trust my intuition. My thoughts shifted monthly (did I want more or less nursery time? A quicker or slower return to work?). Eventually, I landed on two nursery days a week for the rest of 2025, giving me a gentler return to work and more time with family.
Everyone has their own version of what “the right” maternity leave looks like. For some self-employed parents, that might mean no time off at all – and that works for them. For me, a phased return after eight months felt right. Whatever path you choose, it’s got to be right for you.
If you want to chat your maternity leave plans through for keeping your business going whilst you’re off, book a 15 minute chat here to talk through how a planning and strategy session could work for you.