Hello Lovelies !

If your maternity leave is going to get over or you are already returning back to work, then this blog is for you ! Making this shift to come back to the working world is not an easy task. It requires a lot of effort and transition into the fast paced world where everybody is chasing their dreams. With little planning, strength and confidence, you can easily navigate through this chapter of your life.

Here are some honest, real-life tips to help you ease back into work—and motherhood 2.0.

1. Make yourself ready mentally for the “Big Day”

Just as the big day is about to arrive, start preparing yourself mentally about how the days will look like when you return back to work. How will baby care happen? What time will you wake up? This will help you in managing the first few day stresses and guilt of leaving the child back at home in a better way. You can get on a call with your Manager to discuss about work expectations after rejoining as you transition back and if you can start with shorter days to ease your routine

2. Look for a Daycare or Family support whatever works best for you 

This is a big step which needs to be planned very well in advance to ensure you are mentally sane. If you have a joint family with grandparents or other family members staying together then your transition may become smooth as you don’t need to go out and seek support. The child would already be comfortable with family members and can adjust easily when you are not around. However, if you live in a nuclear setup, then look for the right daycare or nanny support on a timely basis. Try to get your baby to stay in a daycare or under nanny supervision couple of days in advance so that the baby can adjust easily when you are away.

Also, as a mother we often carry a lot of guilt with us of not being around our child when they require us the most, but we must not forget that your own professional growth is equally important as the child grows

💡Try this: Do a few trial days before your return so your baby gets used to the new routine—and so do you!

3. Do Mock Practice

Maybe when you are a week or two away from the big day, do some mock drills to make yourself comfortable with the upcoming schedule. Get up at the time when you used to just before maternity hit, feed your baby, drop off at daycare or let them be with the parents, carry your return-to-work bag with all necessary things (be it – your phone charger, water bottle, breast pumping gear if you are breastfeeding, keep an extra top in case of spills while pumping), go out from the house for a few hours to meet friends or to any other place so that your body can get accustomed to the day. You may even drive, if you like.!

When you will do it, you will feel your body getting tired early but slowly you will get back in routine easily

4. Communicate with your manager and the team

A few days ahead of getting into the routine, you can set up a quick chat with your manager and team mates to discuss what’s happening at work, ongoing projects and how you can reintegrate smoothly. You can keep them posted about your motherhood experiences. You can also chat with the HR manager if required for private space in case you are breastfeeding. It can help in building warmth, care and needed support from peers when back at work 

✅ Pro tip: A written plan or quick meeting with your manager can help reset expectations on both sides.

5. Sleep well

With infants around, it is very difficult to catch hold of proper sleep as they don’t let you have enough rest either at night or during the day. When back at work, sleep deprivation can pose a big challenge to your daily schedule

Here are some tips which can help you in overcoming sleep deprivation. Check out this post to learn more about how to cope with sleep deprivation  

6. Overcoming Mom’s Guilt

There may be days when you feel happy but then there could be days when it hurts a lot because you miss your baby or there are differences with your spouse or family as others around you are also adjusting to your new schedule. This is absolutely normal ! Don’t feel overwhelmed. The best possible solution to this situation is to talk ! Yes, talk talk talk. Discuss with your family about how they are feeling, spend whatever time you have with your baby and partner in a happy way.

You are now learning to balance between the two big roles of your life i.e. being a mother and being a professional which takes time. So don’t feel guilty and punish yourself by thinking of yourself as a bad mother or a bad wife. This is a phase and it shall get normalized sooner than you think..

Remember: Feeling torn doesn’t mean you’re doing anything wrong. It just means you care deeply—about your child, your family and your work.

7. Speak with moms who are in similar phase of life

Meeting moms who are in a similar phase of life at the office, family groups, society etc. can help in releasing your worries and also guide you better on how to transition better when returning back to work. Hearing other people journey often motivates and works as a stronger support pillar that you are not the only one who is going through this phase of juggling bottles and spreadsheets !!

8. Take care of Yourself !

While you transition back to work routine and start working regularly, steal sometime in between the day to give yourself the much needed break. At present you are wearing multiple hats – you are a mother, a wife and working professional, when you are busy fulfilling all these jobs, don’t forget to take care of yourself too! Even 15 minutes a day just for you can make a world of difference. A hot coffee, a podcast, a short walk—whatever gives your mind and body a break. To learn more about how to balance between parenthood and self-care, read here https://kinzy.club/blog/balancing-parenthood-and-self-care-is-it-even-possible/ 

Final Thoughts

Returning back to work after maternity leave is tough. It’s a huge milestone in a woman’s life. You have come a long way, motherhood is not easy but you are doing an amazing job. Pat you back for doing what you are doing.!! 

Go back to work with a big smile and give yourself the much needed appreciation always.

From diaper changes to deadlines—you have got it all.!