I have a guest post on the blog today from CV-Library, with some great tips for moms going back to work. Let us know your thoughts in the comments below…
Yes, that time has come. You’ve spent the last twelve months staring lovingly at your new little one, but now the time has arrived for you to head back to work. While it may seem daunting, returning to the workplace doesn’t mean you have to have a bad case of the baby blues.
This could, in fact, be an exciting new opportunity for you to discover the successful new you. The one that can juggle play-dates and baby groups and still succeed at your career. Read on to find out how you can ease back into work after maternity leave.
Catch up with a colleague
Spending that much time away from work can feel a little bit isolating. Why not arrange a catch up with a colleague before you’re due to start. This can either be face-to-face, on the phone or via social media. They can help fill you in on the necessary details to make you feel at ease about coming back into the office.
Take it easy
Juggling your career and your child is going to take some serious effort. Instead of diving straight into the deep end, why not speak to your employer about coming back into your role with shorter working weeks. Alternatively, it may be that your hours change slightly to enable you to leave earlier. This will help fend off post-baby fatigue and ease you back into the working world.
Switch up your style
In your active duty to burp, bathe and feed your child, your clothes may have accumulated a mum-esque sheen. Luckily this can easily be fixed by allocating some time beforehand to put together a few work-based outfits either from your wardrobe or as part of your back to work shopping spree. Doing so will give you an air of confidence, making the transition back to work a much easier process.
Plan ahead
How long does the new journey take from childcare to work? Who will take time off if the baby is ill? Planning ahead will help you deal with any unexpected mishaps and help you account for additional time needed to get your things in order. Organising childcare in advance is also really important. You can search nearby for childcare options that are the best fit for your family’s needs.
Why not spend the day practicing by getting dressed and doing a test run to the office. This will help you gain a better understanding of the journey and ease any unnecessary stress coming into work.
If possible, arrange with your partner or family member that they’ll take time off for the first few illnesses, hopefully, this will then take the pressure off you.
Ask questions
If you feel as if your confidence has been knocked or you aren’t sure about any upcoming projects or new processes in place, then don’t be afraid to ask! You’ve just had a baby, nobody is going to be upset or annoyed that you’re slightly out of touch with what’s going on and need a bit more information.
Utilise your lunch break
The second you leave work, looking after your child is going to be your number one priority. Therefore, why not try to utilize your lunchtime and tick off a few tasks to help free up some time at home. If you need to do a shop, book it online and get it delivered at a time that suits you. Book appointments, do your banking or even take this moment to do something for yourself by going for a nice walk so you feel relaxed throughout the day. That way you can spend less time outside of work stressing about unnecessary things and more time looking after your child.
Give yourself a break
Successfully juggling both parenting and your career is going to take time. So don’t be too hard on yourself if there are a few mistakes along the way. It’s ok to figure it out as you go along, just make sure you fit in a few moments to have a cup of tea and take a deep breath, as we all need to give ourselves a break every now and then.
Working and looking after a child simultaneously can feel daunting, but by planning ahead and taking the pressure off yourself, you’ll soon find yourself easing back into the working world and being there every step of the way for your newborn.
CV-Library is the UK’s leading independent job board and also operates as CV-Library.ie in Ireland. For more expert advice on careers and the workplace, visit their Career Advice and Recruitment Insight pages.
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