How to Take Time Off From Your Business (Without Everything Falling Apart)
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Taking time off your business doesn’t have to mean everything falls apart.
I’m currently 36 weeks pregnant and about to take three full months off the business – and this is my third baby, my third maternity leave, so this ain’t my first rodeo.
My business has not only survived these seasons of babies and young kids – it’s thrived.
Today, I’m giving you the A to Z of how that’s been possible. I’m sharing exactly how to plan for extended time away from your business without losing momentum, dropping the ball on your income or burning it all to the ground in the process.
Whether you’re planning mat leave yourself, a sabbatical, holiday or extended leave of some kind – this is your ultimate guide to stepping away in a way that feels intentional, grounded, and fully aligned with the life-first business you’re building.
The Mindset You Need To Take Time Off
The biggest fear I hear is this: “If I step away, everything will fall apart.”
But that’s just a story. One you can rewrite.
Before you even look at mapping out a plan, start with your mindset. Look for the evidence that this is possible for you.
I’ve taken maternity leave twice before, and both times my business didn’t just make it through – it thrived. Why?
I’ve always built a life-first business.
I trust myself deeply.
That self-trust piece is key. I’m able to take this time off not because I’ve removed all risk – but because I trust myself to handle whatever comes up. There are always options, always solutions, and as entrepreneurs we’re uniquely equipped to adapt.
Start there. Believe it’s possible. Trust yourself.
Get Clear On What You Actually Want
Before you can start planning your time off, you need to ask – what do you actually want it to look like?
Are you switching off completely? Or keeping some offers running?
Are you wanting to maintain your income + profit – or simply keep the lights on?
This clarity matters. For me, I knew I wanted a full three months off – the longest mat leave I’ve ever taken – but I also didn’t want to shut everything down. This shaped every other decision.
Don’t design your leave based on what you think it should look like. Design it around what you actually want.
Plan Client Delivery First
Once you know what you want, the first step is to plan your offers and client delivery.
If you’re keeping programs running – what does client support look like while you’re off?
In my case, I decided to keep the Spiritual Business Mistressmind going. That meant bringing in a support coach, organising guest masterclasses and reshuffling 1:1 sessions so everyone felt held across that time.
If you’re pressing pause instead – how will you support your clients in the lead up and after you return?
There’s no right or wrong. It’s all about what supports your vision.
Run the Numbers + Create a Cashflow Plan
Time off doesn’t have to mean your income has to stop. But you do need to have a plan for what it looks like.
Ask yourself:
What income is already locked in for that time?
What expenses will you have while you’re away?
What do you need to feel supported?
For me, having recurring revenue through the Mistressmind is what has allowed me to take this time off without any worries about cashflow.
I have also set up and optimised a back-end funnel leading to the Ascension private podcast, which is welcoming new leads and nurturing them while I’m offline.
It’s all about making smart, intentional decisions that align with your values and goals.
Be Honest About the Trade-Offs
Taking time off will require trade-offs.
This year, I had to make decisions that impact short-term profits, but ultimately support long-term sustainability.
For example, we reduced the Mistressmind rate during my mat leave. I also pressed pause on in-person events. These were intentional, values-based decisions and conscious trade-offs that I had to make to support me into and through this maternity leave and beyond.
It’s not always easy to make these kinds of decisions, but ultimately it came down to what served the overall vision of what I wanted this season to look and feel like.
So ask yourself: What trade-offs are you willing to make? What do you value most right now? And be willing to make the hard decisions from there.
Content and Marketing: The Cherry On Top
Once the foundational stuff is in place – then it’s time to look at your plan for your content and marketing.
Will you be going fully offline or still visible in some way?
Will you schedule pre-batched content or pause it altogether?
For me, I have really leant into what has felt most fun and creative. For example, we’ve got two mini-series scheduled for the podcast that I’m really excited about and I’ve pre-batched some social content – but I’m not putting pressure on myself to show up on any kind of schedule while I’m off.
Plan your “best case” content plan – and then leave some space for flexibility.
Build the Support Team You Need
I won’t lie – team support makes taking time off a lot easier. My maternity leave plans would look very different without my team.
I’m in the privileged position that both my team members, Tahryn and Jilanne, have already supported me through previous mat leaves – so having them on board again this time has made it so much easier to step away this time.
You can, of course, still take time off without a team – but it will look different. And that’s okay, there’s no right or wrong here, it’s about making decisions and plans that make the most sense for you in whatever season you’re in.
But if you are solo right now and you do have the resources to bring someone in – I would recommend it. And I’d recommend doing it early. Give yourself time to build trust and systems before you go.
Even a little support can make a huge difference when taking time off from your business.
Bring It All Together Into a Solid Plan
You need a plan. A solid one with due dates and delegation.
I started planning for my August mat leave back in January. By April, I was recording pre-batched podcast content. Not everything was done early, but I knew the plan and the timeline – which meant I could execute without burning out or rushing everything at the end.
Whether you’re taking three weeks or three months, early planning gives you more options, more ease and more sustainability.
The Biggest Takeaway?
It is 100% possible to take time off from your business without everything falling apart – but it takes intentional planning, values-based decisions and deep self-trust.
Get clear on what you want. Back it with strategy. And give yourself the time and support you need to make it happen.