Transitioning Back To Work After Maternity Leave
Returning to work after maternity leave can feel very strange indeed – everything will probably feel familiar, but something will definitely have changed. After all, you’ve spent months in a completely different world, doing completely different things, and now you’re expected to go back to how things were; of course it’s going to be a challenge.
It’s actually a massive adjustment, and it’s completely normal to feel a mix of excitement, uncertainty, and a little bit of everything in between. And it doesn’t matter whether you’re returning full-time, part-time, or in a phased way, the transition back to work needs a lot of thought and, crucially, you’ve got to take care of yourself at the same time. With that in mind, keep reading to find out how to make things easier on yourself and everyone around you.
Take It One Step At A Time
It’s often tempting to think you need to jump right back into work at full speed and things will be just like you left them – it might feel as though you’ve got to prove you’re still capable of doing the job and so on, and that you can be just as productive as before. But the truth is there’s no need to rush, and your return to work really isn’t a test, no matter how it might feel – it’s just a new stage in life, and you’ve got to do it in a way that works for you.
If your workplace offers a phased return or some kind of flexible working arrangements, that got to be something that’s worth exploring because easing in gradually can help you adjust much more easily and you’ll be less likely to feel overwhelmed. And whatever you do, you’ve got to give yourself time to get used to things again and get into a new routine, especially because your priorities are probably going to be different now – you’ll want to get home at a reasonable time, for example, rather than staying late to work, so that’s something else to factor in.
Protect Your Wellbeing
Taking care of your own wellbeing is just as important as taking care of your job and your child, and that means looking after your physical recovery, taking care of your mental health, and – and this is so important – knowing when to ask for help. There’s so much emotion involved in returning to work after having a baby, and a lot of people don’t realise it or underestimate how it’s going to affect them, so it’s wise to understand it and know it’s okay to feel your feelings.
And of course, there might be challenges ahead, and it’s important to know your rights about issues in the workplace. That’s why talking to a workers’ compensation attorney can be a good idea, to ensure you’ve got all the information you might need, just in case.
Rebuild Your Confidence
After a few months away, or perhaps even a year or more depending on your specific circumstances, you might actually wonder if you can do the job anymore, and you may well experience a bit of a dip in your confidence levels – and that’s only to be expected when you think about it.
It’s true that stepping away from the workplace, even for a short amount of time, can mean you forget a few things, or that processes and systems have changed while you’ve been away, but those are things that you can easily pick up and learn (or re-learn), and in fact, what about all the new skills you’ve got now that you’re a parent? Things like time management, multitasking, flexibility, problem-solving, and so on – that’s all got to count for something, and you might find it’s something you can use to your advantage when you get back to work – that’s going to boost your confidence massively.
Open Communication Is Important
Clear communication with your manager and team is something else that can definitely help make the transition back into work after maternity leave a lot easier and smoother for you – it means you’ve got to be honest about your needs, the schedule that’s going to work for you, and how you’re adjusting. So you might want to talk about flexible hours, remote work options, time off for childcare, and all kinds of other important things, and it’s crucial that you do talk about them and that you do it as early as possible so you don’t get too stressed out and worried about things in the workplace.
Plus, it’s vital to remember that good, open communication is also something you need to have with yourself, as strange as that might seem. Think about it this way; you get back to work after months away and you’ll probably have some high expectations about what you can do and how much you’re going to get done, but if you find things are different, then it’s okay to re-evaluate all that and change your thinking and your expectations – it’s all about being honest with yourself.
