One of the biggest difficulties new moms face is going back to work. Even for new moms that want to go back to work, it can be difficult to make the transition. Not only do you worry about leaving your baby, but also you may be anxious about getting back into the swing of things after having so much time off. There is no need to fret, however, as we have some top tips for any mom that is getting ready to go back to work after maternity leave.
- Make sure you get plenty of sleep – Sleep is often a luxury for new parents, but you need to ensure you are well rested if you are planning on going back to work. Maintaining a healthy work/life balance is even more important for new moms. You can make yourself ill if you go to work with no sleep.
- Ask for flexibility – You may be worried about asking for flexibility from your employer, as you don’t want to make a bad impression after you have had so much time off work. However, you are a new mom! You haven’t been sunbathing on a beach for the past three months. You know what they say; if you don’t ask, you don’t get, so there is no harm in exploring various options, such as working from home when possible.
- Consider all of your options – For any new mom, the most obvious choice regarding returning to work is to go back to their old job. But, is this something you really want to do? Now is the perfect time to change your job or further your education if you have a different vision for your future. You would be surprised how many moms embark on a new career path once they have had their first child. You don’t need to go to college or university in order to further your learning. You could take an online MA in Education Technology, meaning you can make your way up a new career ladder from the comfort of your own home. Of course, there are plenty of different online courses available, so there is no end to the new careers you could carve out for yourself.
- Have a trial run – Don’t leave everything until your first morning at work. Have a trial run a couple of days before. Practice your new morning routine; set your alarm, drop the baby off at their childcare, and take the journey to your office. This may sound like a pointless exercise, but it will help you determine how much time is required and ensure that things go a lot more smoothly the next day.
Reconnect with the office – If you do decide to go back to your old place of work, it is a good idea to reconnect with the office. This will make it a lot easier for you to ease back into workplace culture. Meet up with a few co-workers beforehand, and you will feel much more comfortable about going back to work.