Preparing for Maternity (or Extended) Leave as a Business Owner
I’m writing this just as it’s hitting me that in just a couple of weeks, I’ll be gone for a full month and really should start preparing now for anything I can plan ahead. So I thought it was the perfect time to share this with you, while I’m in the thick of it myself.
Whether you’re planning for a baby or just an intentional season away from your business, taking extended leave requires more than just putting up an “out of office” message. It takes planning, clarity, and a little bit of letting go.
Here’s a trimester-by-trimester guide that’s helped me (and can help you) prep with intention without burning out in the process.
Note: While this guide is organized by trimester, you can absolutely use it as a general checklist or timeline no matter how long your leave will be. If you're planning a shorter time away, like a month-long pause or a working sabbatical just pull the relevant steps and adjust the timing to fit your own pace.
Trimester 1: Start with Strategy
The first trimester is all about asking the hard questions and getting honest about the numbers.
Are my financial goals still realistic?
Will current clients and launch plans allow me to pay myself + my team?
Do I need to build a financial cushion or shift my revenue goals?
Am I okay taking a temporary pay cut and is my family okay with that?
Can my team continue to carry the load? Or do I need to increase support?
Who else needs to know right now? (Hint: tell your team and contractors early.)
It’s also a good time to observe how others in your industry handled leave. What worked for them? What didn’t?
Trimester 2: Define the Vision
This is where logistics meet intuition. Start dreaming about what you want your time away to actually feel like not just what needs to get done.
What do I want those first two weeks to look like? (I vote: completely offline.)
How often do I want to hear from my team or check in?
What qualifies as “urgent”?
Do I want to be looped in if a dream opportunity pops up?
What’s the plan for client work, funnels, and inquiries?
What’s the onboarding process if someone wants to work with me?
When will I return to client work, and what’s the transition plan?
Start writing it down. Document workflows. Plan a team retreat or just some time to bond and align. Begin to sketch your goals for post-leave. A little hint - you don’t need them perfect, just on the page.
Trimester 3: Tidy, Communicate, and Let Go
This is the “go time” season, where your plans start becoming reality.
Set your departure date and communicate it clearly.
Batch your content:
Emails, blogs, posts, podcast episodes, launch materials
Set up your autoresponder + email footer
Finalize and share SOPs for anything your team or clients may need
Begin practicing the art of “not doing everything”
Clean up your workspace (physical and digital)
Make space. Mentally. Physically. Energetically.
Also: decide how you want to share your news publicly whether that’s a quiet note or a celebration post. It’s your story to tell.
This isn’t about doing everything perfectly. It’s about preparing in a way that lets you step away with peace and come back with presence. And that? That’s worth planning for.