First Trimester:

<aside> 1️⃣ During the first trimester, I didn’t feel great physically. So, I spent a lot of time curled up on the couch on my phone in research mode! It was a good time to give my body a break, but my mind was eager to research and learn all it could. And remember, even if all you can do some days is rest, that's okay! Your body is doing A LOT, so even if some days you feel like you did “nothing”, that is absolutely not the case — you’re growing a HUMAN!

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• [ ] Vision Setting: Start by dreaming up your ideal maternity leave. What do you want it to look like? How will your business operate when you're away?
• [ ] Reach out: Connect with other entrepreneurs who have gone through maternity leave. Their experiences can guide your planning.
• [ ] Financial Review: Start understanding your financial situation and the impact of a potential income reduction. Time to plan those financial buffers!

Second Trimester:

<aside> 2️⃣ If you're like me and start feeling more like yourself in the second trimester, then seize this moment! It's the perfect time to get things done. I found myself buzzing with newfound energy. I channelled this into preparing everything, from the nursery to the baby essentials. But I didn't stop there. I also used this time to strategize for my maternity leave. It involved everything from content batching to brainstorming with my team. This was my power phase!

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• [ ] Let Your Team Know: It's time to share the big news with your team and discuss potential leave dates. The sooner, the smoother!
• [ ] Delegate Responsibilities: Decide what you'll delegate or pause while you're away. Make sure everyone on your team knows their new responsibilities.
• [ ] Automate and Streamline Processes: Review and tweak business processes and email funnels to keep things running smoothly while you're away. This might include automating billing, customer service responses, or content delivery.
• [ ] Create Scopes of Work and Workflows: Write out clear project outlines and task breakdowns that your team can follow in your absence. Think of it as creating a roadmap to keep the creative energy flowing even when you're not there.
• [ ] Prepare FAQ Templates: Put together responses for those frequently asked questions from customers. This will make it easier for your team to keep up with inquiries while you're on leave. [Psst… If starting any of these processes from scratch feels daunting, you should definitely check out my best-selling Notion template pack ✨ Down to Biz Notion Pack for Creative Entrepreneurs✨]
• [ ] Content Planning: Begin batching content that can be scheduled during your leave, such as blog posts, email newsletters, or social media posts (if it feels aligned). But also, don’t be afraid to hit pause and let some things go!
• [ ] Communicate with Clients and Partners: Start discussions with clients and partners about your leave. Adjust project timelines and set expectations clearly.
• [ ] Financial Planning: Further refine your financial plans, ensuring you have a solid strategy for maintaining business operations in terms of cash flow and expenses. Where can you cut expenses? Also, consider checking in with your accountant to see how you can adjust your salary (if applicable) while you’re away to save on taxes.

Third Trimester:

<aside> 3️⃣ By the 30th week, I felt a noticeable shift in my energy levels. I was incredibly thankful for my productive second trimester, which left me with a manageable to-do list. If you can, I strongly suggest easing off work a month before your due date. Deadlines have a way of stretching out, so if you build in that buffer, you'll hopefully get a few weeks to unwind, relish the calm before the baby arrives, and focus on tying up any loose ends in your personal life. You deserve rest as your body is going through a lot. Don't hesitate to rely on your loved ones and ask for help!

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• [ ] Finalize Content Scheduling: Make sure all your prepped content is scheduled and ready to go. Double-check all details to avoid any hiccups.
• [ ] Wrap Up Active Projects: Aim to complete or hand off ongoing projects. Clear your plate as much as possible to focus fully on your upcoming personal commitments
• [ ] Set Up Your Out-of-Office: Set up your out-of-office notifications, letting people know approximately when you’ll return and who to contact in your absence.
  • My OOO Message if you want to copy pastaaa.