Scheduling is self care

In our last blog we mentioned balancing holding space for birthing people and managing your own commitments. It’s a question we get asked a lot, how do you balance running your own business as a Doula, and an existing job, your family or caring responsibilities. The biggest and most intimidating aspect of scheduling is how to manage being on call. Let’s dig into it a little bit.

The reality is that unless you’re booking two or three clients a month, you can choose when you go on call. Then, when you’re on call, your life doesn’t stop! You have some limitations like, don’t travel too far, make sure you have childcare on call and don’t get too drunk! Basically, be ready to show up for your client.

What about scheduling around your clients due dates? This you have to take case by case, there’s not one hard fast formula that will define how you schedule it. The due dates of your clients need to be one of your considerations as to whether you are able to work with them. You may have some overlapping on calls, but it’s important to ensure that if one of your clients goes into 42 or even 43 weeks, and another could potentially come at 38 weeks, you have a backup or shared care arrangement in place. 

When you’re not on call, you set your schedule. You’re working with your clients to meet them for their antenatal or postnatal sessions. You can pick days where you work, and days that you need to have off to manage your other responsibilities, or a day of self care. What 9-5 job can you say that about? 

Not every day will be easy, not every antenatal or postnatal session will be easy. Not every birth will be easy.  However, as you run your own business you are accountable for how you manage coming down from the more challenging days. One of the biggest things is to not do it alone! Network with other local birth workers, this is important to not only have support when you need it, but to build those trusted backup or shared care arrangements. 

In short, smart scheduling is self-care! You have the capability to make your work work for you.