If you saw my announcement earlier this month, surprise! Jonathan and I welcomed our daughter this summer.

For most of my pregnancy, I kept the news pretty private. Outside of family and close friends, very few people knew what was happening behind the scenes. While projects were moving forward, emails were being sent, and business continued as usual, I was quietly preparing for one of the biggest changes of my life.

As a solopreneur, maternity leave looks a little different than it does for most people. There is no HR department helping you create a leave plan, no paid maternity leave, and no coworker stepping in to cover your workload while you’re away. If you want time off, you have to create it yourself, and that’s exactly what I did.

I knew early on that I wanted to be fully present with my family during those first few months. I didn’t want to be answering client emails from the hospital or worrying about unfinished projects while trying to soak up those early newborn days. That meant planning ahead, creating systems, and making intentional decisions long before maternity leave officially began.

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Why I Started Planning Early

One of the best decisions I made was starting earlier than I thought I needed to.

As soon as I knew maternity leave would be part of my year, I started looking at my business through a different lens. Instead of focusing only on what was directly in front of me, I started thinking about what future Alexis would need.

• What projects needed to be completed before my leave?
• What could be automated?
• What could be simplified?
• What absolutely needed my attention, and what could wait until I returned?

By giving myself several months to prepare, I was able to make progress little by little instead of trying to cram everything into the final weeks before my due date. It also gave me peace of mind knowing that if our daughter decided to arrive early, I wouldn’t be scrambling to get things in order.

Batching Content Ahead of Time

One of the biggest projects on my maternity leave preparation list was content.

I didn’t want my email list, specifically, to suddenly go silent for months, but I also knew I didn’t want to be writing newsletters or planning promotions during maternity leave. The solution was simple: batch as much as possible ahead of time. With the help of my team, I was able to plan, prep, and schedule my entire maternity leave and beyond so nothing was left hanging. We focused on creating content that could continue serving my audience while I stepped away.

This was probably one of the areas where having support made the biggest difference. Knowing that content was already planned and scheduled allowed me to focus my energy elsewhere and helped ensure that my business would continue showing up consistently even while I wasn’t actively working and spending time with my daughter.

Setting Boundaries with Clients

Another important part of preparing for maternity leave was setting clear expectations with clients.

I started communicating timelines early, adjusted project schedules where needed, and became much more intentional about what I said yes to. I also blocked off my calendar months in advance and stopped booking projects beyond a certain point so I could create some breathing room before our daughter’s arrival.

That wasn’t always easy. As business owners, it’s tempting to squeeze in one more project or take on one more client, especially when inquiries are coming in. But I knew that every project I booked would need to be completed before maternity leave, and I didn’t want to spend the final weeks of pregnancy feeling rushed or overwhelmed. One thing that helped was that many of my services already book several months in advance, so I was able to plan my availability and adjust my schedule long before maternity leave began.

By creating those boundaries early, I was able to finish projects well before my leave started and give myself time to prepare both personally and professionally. It also helped me return to work without feeling behind.

Thankfully, every client I spoke with was incredibly supportive. Most people appreciate clear communication, and sharing my availability well in advance made the entire process much smoother than I expected.

Leaning on Recurring Revenue and Retainers

One thing maternity leave reinforced for me is the value of building recurring revenue streams.

My Worry-Free Maintenance clients provided consistency and predictability during a season when I knew I wouldn’t be actively marketing my services. I also had digital products, templates, and courses available for people who wanted support while I was away.

Those income streams weren’t created overnight. They were built gradually over the years through intentional decisions and small improvements. But having them in place gave me confidence that my business could continue supporting my family while I focused on this new chapter.

It was a good reminder that recurring revenue doesn’t just create stability. It creates flexibility when life requires you to step away from your business for a season!

Systems and Automation Did the Heavy Lifting

One of the biggest lessons I learned during this process is that systems matter. Over the years, I’ve spent a lot of time creating workflows, templates, automations, and processes to make my business run more efficiently. Maternity leave became the ultimate test of whether those systems would actually work without me actively managing everything day to day.

Behind the scenes, I had inquiry forms collecting leads, HoneyBook workflows handling onboarding tasks, scheduled emails going out to my audience, payment plans processing automatically, and canned responses ready for common questions. None of those things replaced me, but they did eliminate a lot of repetitive tasks that normally require my attention.

Having those systems in place gave me confidence that my business could continue operating even while I was focused on my family. It also reinforced something I’ve always believed: systems aren’t just about saving time. They’re about creating freedom and flexibility when life requires your attention elsewhere – like a baby!

What I Let Go Of

As much as I wanted to be fully prepared, I eventually realized that not everything was going to get done before maternity leave, and honestly, that was okay.

I passed on some potential client work during my months away. Some ideas stayed on my someday list, and some goals that felt urgent at the beginning of the year suddenly didn’t seem nearly as important. Preparing for maternity leave forced me to take a hard look at everything on my to-do list and decide what actually needed my attention. It became clear very quickly that perfection wasn’t the goal. Creating space was.

Instead of trying to check every single box, I focused on the things that would have the biggest impact on my business and my family. Letting go of the rest helped me feel far less stressed heading into this new season.

What Surprised Me Most

Looking back, what surprised me most wasn’t the planning itself. It was how much trust was involved.

I had spent years building systems, creating recurring revenue streams, refining my processes, and finding ways to make my business more sustainable. But stepping away still felt a little scary. As solopreneurs, it’s easy to feel like everything depends on us. We’re often the salesperson, project manager, customer service department, marketer, and CEO all rolled into one, so the idea of stepping away, even temporarily, can feel impossible.

What I discovered was that my business didn’t need my constant attention every hour of every day. The systems worked. The clients were supportive. The opportunities were still there when I returned.

I also spent most of the year preparing for maternity leave while keeping the reason largely to myself. There were moments when I wanted to explain why I was planning so far ahead, blocking off my calendar, or adjusting timelines, but I wasn’t ready to share the news publicly yet. Looking back, I’m grateful I gave myself that space and privacy during such a special season.

Another thing that surprised me was realizing that maternity leave didn’t have to be all or nothing. Going into it, I assumed I would either be completely disconnected from my business or fully working. Instead, I found a middle ground that worked well for both my family and me.

While I stepped away from client projects and most day-to-day responsibilities, I still stayed lightly connected through my weekly emails, Worry-Free Maintenance clients, and a few discovery calls in August. Before leave began, my family and I worked together to create a schedule that felt realistic and supportive, which allowed me to be present with my daughter while still checking in on the parts of my business that mattered most.

The difference was that these were intentional choices, not obligations. Instead of my business dictating my schedule, I got to decide how and when I wanted to engage. That flexibility made the transition into motherhood feel much more manageable than I expected.

Now that I’m on the other side of it, I’m grateful for both the preparation and the perspective it gave me. Becoming a mom has changed so much, but it also reinforced something I’ve always believed: your business should support your life, not consume it!

What I’d Tell Other Business Owners

If you’re preparing for maternity leave, family leave, or any extended time away from your business, my biggest piece of advice is to start earlier than you think you need to.

Give yourself more time than you think you’ll need. Build systems before they’re necessary. Communicate with clients well in advance. Ask for help when you need it. Most importantly, don’t wait until the last minute to create a plan. I also think it’s important to remember that taking time away doesn’t make you less committed to your business. In many ways, it forces you to build a stronger one.

The work will still be there when you come back. The emails will still be there. The opportunities will still be there. Life’s biggest moments deserve your attention too.

Ready for What’s Next?

Now that I’m back and settling into a new rhythm, I’m officially booking website design and branding projects for the rest of 2026 and beyond.

If you’ve been thinking about updating your website, refreshing your branding, or creating a stronger online presence for your business, I’d love to help! Whether you’re looking for a complete website redesign or support creating a brand that feels more aligned with where your business is headed, we can chat about what makes the most sense for your goals.

You can learn more about my services or reach out to start the conversation.