How can you balance freelancing as a new parent?

As a parent, whether you are new to parenting or have teenagers in the house, the freelance lifestyle can sound incredibly appealing. You can work from home, design your own hours, and be more available for kid-related emergencies. Although downsides like no parental leave, and fluctuating work and income are a reality, for most busy parents the benefits far outweigh the drawbacks. One thing’s for sure: parenthood is a master class in productivity, and you’ll have no other option than to make it work. 

We know that nothing can truly prepare you for the life of a new parent and each and every one of us has a different set of challenges to navigate. For those of you who are about to embark on this great adventure, we’d like to offer some tips on how you can balance freelancing as new parents 

Assessing your business 

While juggling freelancing as new parents, you need to review your current projects and commitments, and start the process of ruthless prioritsation (a skill you’ll quickly get used to sharpening). Which are the do-or-die tasks, and who are the key clients who will likely stay with you long-term? Note down any shifting time frames or priorities as you consider your upcoming leave. Set reasonable expectations for when you’ll be back part-time and full-time. Communicate them with your clients before they’ve set their objectives for those months. Some consultants even begin transitioning their business model from project-based work to a retainer model, in order to ensure a more stable income and work flow in the coming months with a new baby in tow. 

As you go through your business audit, keep the following recommendations in mind:

Set realistic expectations for your return. Talk to other independent professionals (or your own parents) to better understand the time and energy demands of a newborn. Consider the fact that you will be “on-call” 24 hours running on little to no sleep at least for the first few months of your baby’s life. Though sleep deprivation affects everyone differently, you should have a general idea of how the quality of your work may suffer. Make your peace with it, understanding that even if you have the time to tackle a work task, you might not have the energy. Plan to be away from your computer for at least 6 weeks. Also, factor in the possibility of health-related interruptions that may impact this timeline. 

Budget wisely. Financial planning is a key component of scheduling parental leave. Would you be able to get by with savings if you don’t generate any income during your leave? Create a financial cushion of 3-6 months of living expenses to accommodate inevitable income fluctuations. 

Set expectations with your partner. If you’ll be welcoming a newborn with a partner, get clear on how you’ll divide up the labour. Discuss and write down, in detail, which responsibilities and chores each of you will take on. You’ll need to be flexible once the baby arrives and clearly communicate any desired changes. First, it’s important to establish a shared understanding of the work and mental load each of you expects from the other.

Look into backup options. Explore parental leave policies for freelancers, such as local government programs that offer support. Unfortunately, these programs are few and far between, so while you shouldn’t outright dismiss them, don’t lean on them as a lifeline.

If you usually do everything yourself, consider asking for help. Lean on friends and relatives to help you through this challenging transition. 

Establishing a flexible work schedule

Say good-bye to the 9-to-5, as parenthood is a full-time, 24-hour job. The 9-5 life was not created for parents to begin with, so now is the perfect time to let go of that outdated way of working. It’s helpful to gather information from new parents in your freelancing community. However, it would be unwise to base your schedule on theirs. Each baby is different, and you have no idea what type of newborn yours will be. Parenting an infant with colic versus a sound sleeper are experiences that can feel worlds apart. Avoid making a schedule altogether, and shift your focus to creating a management plan for the unexpected.

For example, your revamped work day will likely be composed of what we like to call “confetti time,” which means working during blips of free time that arrive at random hours of the day. You’ll have to learn to fit your work into these moments. This is necessary regardless of whether you’re in the right mindset or have the energy to do so. You can start prepping ahead of time for this sort of scheduling by using the Pomodoro technique. Set a timer to focus on a well-defined task in short spurts, such as 30-45 minutes. Once accustomed to this flow, you can much more easily get work done in the confetti hours of parenthood. Though it may seem restrictive initially, you’ll soon find it enlightening as you realise how much you can achieve in a short time with true focus.

This understanding opens up new ways to think about how things can get done. Does every task really have to be done by you? It might make sense in some cases to hire a virtual assistant or other freelancers for temporary support.

Learn how AI can help independent professionals and new parents manage routine tasks efficiently, allowing more time to focus on what truly matters.

To help support your upcoming work schedule, start looking into new tools for project management, communication, and time tracking now. Apps designed to help you focus or maintain productivity can also be useful during the newborn phase. Test out these tools ahead of time to see how they impact your workflow. Make sure you’ve got the most productive channels at the ready before you’ll need them. For some, pen and paper do the trick. For others a task management system built out in Trello or Asana are more useful. Only you know what works for you. 

Preparing mentally

Now that you’ve got all your logistical ducks in a row, it’s time to make sure you’re emotionally prepared for the road ahead. New parents often have to manage feelings of guilt and inadequacy, even those who aren’t balancing parenthood with a career. For those new parents who do juggle the freelancing work, it’s common for an identity crisis to be looming around the corner. Brainstorm some strategies to keep your emotional well-being in check. Share them with your partner or close friend so they can ensure you’re turning to them when you need support. Strategies could include physical exercise, joining a parenting group or spending time outside the home. Know that this challenging stage of parenthood doesn’t last long. Before you know it, you will be saying things like “they grow up so fast.”

Sleep deprivation is another hurdle you will have to manage. When your brain’s running on a lower power mode, it impacts your productivity and creativity. It’s difficult to “hack” sleep – if you don’t get the zzz’s in, there’s no real way to make up for it – so focus on the health factors that you can control. Before the baby arrives, determine easy routines to help you regulate stress, eat nourishing foods, and stay hydrated. To the extent that you can determine your own work schedule, try to tackle the creative and more heavy-hitting projects at optimal times. Aim for when you’ve been able to get more hours of sleep. Save the smaller, lower-priority projects for those sleepless nights. Remember to fill your own cup: get those naps in when you can. And don’t feel guilty about getting some well-deserved rest. 

Welcoming a new life – yours

It’s safe to say that nothing can fully prepare you for the transition to parenthood, but a little planning and a new mindset can really give you a leg up. Make the most of the support from your partner, friends, and extended family. And don’t make the mistake of thinking that the professional outlook has to be bleak. On the contrary, many parents find that having a baby takes their freelancing business to the next level. It forces them to evaluate what’s working and drop everything that’s not. They’re finally able to clearly understand their priorities, which immediately boosts productivity. 

Lastly, accept that not everything will go as planned. Simply focus on building a mindset of flexibility and adaptability, and — amid all the challenges and imperfections — look for the moments of beauty and growth.

Good luck!