My expectations . . . or lack thereof

Everyone says that having a baby will change everything. Of course, that includes how my business will be run, the time I’ll be able to spend on, the amount of clients I can take on each year, etc. We’ve decided to forgo childcare for the first year of our little one’s life which means we will have a lot to figure out when he comes in January.

Because of this, I’ve been trying to practice the mindset of patience and grace for what life will look like post-partum. I’m trying not to impose any expectations on myself as it pertains to my business other than my goal to be working part-time hours by mid-year. I’ve spent so much time building my business and love what I do! So, naturally, I want to keep my business alive and thriving. But, I know that will come with sacrifices, odd hours, trouble-shooting, and a lot of prayer.

I’m so excited to meet our baby and at the same time know there is no way to be fully prepared for what’s to come. With that being said, I am trying to take a few steps now to take some key tasks off my plate for the first few months of the year. That includes prepping and scheduling a lot of my marketing content, setting up my online shop, and making sure all of my clients and future inquiries are in-the-know.

Tools I’m Using to Prepare for my Leave

Notion:

Notion is my all-in-one organization app! It’s been a game-changer for my business and it’s so incredibly versatile. I use Notion every day to stay on top of tasks both internally and for my client projects. I’m specifically using the app to schedule out my content for the first few months of the year. I start with a blog post topic, then branch out into educational, personal, and promotional posts. Using Notion, I can easily plan out each post’s format, imagery, and type up a caption. It makes staying on top of my cross-posting SO easy! You can click my affiliate link below to see if its a good fit for your business!

Tailwind App:

Tailwind is my go-to powerhouse app for all things Pinterest. I use Tailwind to schedule out my interest posts once a quarter and it only takes me a few hours! I post about 3 of my own pins per day, every day so having this app at my disposal is a must. It helps me optimize each pin by making sure I don’t miss a single step. It also now has an Ai function that will improve your titles and captions for better performance. Pinterest is definitely a slow-burn marketing platform, but since using Tailwind, I’ve seen significant results when it comes to my website traffic. Click my affiliate link below to learn more!

Flodesk:

When it comes to sending out my weekly newsletter, I’ve always relied on Flodesk. This platform offers great analytics and design aesthetics which is, of course, important to me as a designer. It makes sending stylish emails simple and effective! To prep for maternity leave, I’ve made myself a newsletter template so I can spend just 10-15 minutes per week sending out my weekly newsletter to keep my audience updated on my latest blog posts, portfolio projects, and availability. Click my affiliate link to learn more about this amazing email platform!

Setting up a waitlist on my website:

Since I won’t be taking on new clients during my leave, I’m going to be using Honeybook to replace my current contact form. This new form will allow people to join a waitlist for when I’m back in the office! This way I can easily keep track of each potential clients’ project details and easily walk through the onboarding process with them when the time comes! If you’re in need of a client-management platform that’s easy to use, check out Honeybook! I’ve been using their app for 2 years and it’s saved me so much time!

Gmail Automatic Response:

Lastly, I’ll be setting up an email auto-reponse. Usually, my past clients in need of additional design work will reach out via email so it’s important that I go beyond the waitlist form. I’m so thankful to receive so much on-going work from my past clients so I want to make sure they are informed as well!

And if you’re also expecting, here are some books & resources I’ve been taking advantage of:

Crib Sheet by Emily Oster:

“As any new parent knows, there is an abundance of often-conflicting advice hurled at you from doctors, family, friends, and strangers on the internet. From the earliest days, parents get the message that they must make certain choices around feeding, sleep, and schedule or all will be lost. There's a rule—or three—for everything. But the benefits of these choices can be overstated, and the trade-offs can be profound. How do you make your own best decision? 

Armed with the data, Oster finds that the conventional wisdom doesn't always hold up. She debunks myths around breastfeeding (not a panacea), sleep training (not so bad!), potty training (wait until they're ready or possibly bribe with M&Ms), language acquisition (early talkers aren't necessarily geniuses), and many other topics. She also shows parents how to think through freighted questions like if and how to go back to work, how to think about toddler discipline, and how to have a relationship and parent at the same time. 

Economics is the science of decision-making, and Cribsheet is a thinking parent's guide to the chaos and frequent misinformation of the early years. Emily Oster is a trained expert—and mom of two—who can empower us to make better, less fraught decisions—and stay sane in the years before preschool.”

The Baby Academy:

The Baby Academy has some great free and paid virtual classes! I took the Ultimate Baby Care class just last Saturday. Some of their classes are free and some are paid (but reimbursed by insurance!!!). So I highly recommend checking out their website if you’re looking for some classes on all things first-time parenting.

The Sh*t No One Tells You:

“Best-selling humor author Dawn Dais, mother to a one-year-old and author of The Sh!t No One Tells You About Toddlers, is convinced that there is a reason for this lack of preparedness. She believes that a vast conspiracy exists to hide the horrific truth about parenting from doe-eyed expectant mothers who might otherwise abandon their babies in hospitals and run for it. In The Sh!t No One Tells You, Dais tells it like it is, revealing what it’s really like to be a new parent and providing helpful insights, humor, and hope for those who feel overwhelmed by the exhausting trials they’re suddenly facing. Eschewing the adorableness that oozes out of other parenting books, Dais offers real advice from real moms along with hilarious anecdotes, clever tips, and the genuine encouragement every mom needs in order to survive the first year of parenthood.”