tips on going back to work after having a baby
Tips on Going Back to Work After Having a Baby
It is never an easy decision to make when you have to choose between being a stay-at-home mother or go back to work. However, this decision has to be made. In the following article, we will discuss some helpful tips for going back to work after having a baby. Read on.
- During your maternity leave, you can start working around the idea that soon you'll be returning to work. Take each day into consideration and plan accordingly. Guilt is the first hiccup which needs to be addressed. You know this very well that going back to work is not a selfish decision on your part. Raising a child is not easy, even if your husband/partner is doing well financially. Your decision, even if it is for a short period of time, is the right one for your family and yourself.
- Divide the responsibility of raising your child with your husband/partner. An extra set of hands never hurt anyone. Many a time, mothers fear or are skeptical that they won't be able to handle work and home properly. Which is why, receiving help, as much as you can, from the father will be beneficial. You will have more energy once you return home from work, can pay better attention to your child and other family members, and won't feel guilty for going back to work. Make a week-long chart and divide chores between one another.
- Make sure to keep as much quality time with your baby and family, after work, as you can. It is natural to feel exhausted and irritated after a long day at work. However, spending time with your baby and family is important too. In order to do that, once a week you can all cook together and catch up in the kitchen, get takeout to reduce stress, come up with easy dinner ideas, bathe the baby together (mother and father), read bedtime stories, take walks in the evening, etc.; doing things together as a family will bring you all closer than ever. Also, this helps in maintaining a balance in your work and personal life. Managing your time is the key here.
- Before going back to work, try to rest as much as you can and calm your mind. Your new work-home schedule is going to be hectic and it can take a toll on you. Which is why, you need to rest before you are burdened with more duties. Inform yourself from the beginning as to what kind of responsibilities are going to be given to you at work. This way, you can make a schedule for yourself that will give you enough time to be with your family and baby, take some time off for yourself, and give 100% at work as well.
- Don't bring issues home from work, and vice versa. This is one of the biggest errors made by mothers. There are times when you may have tons of work in the office. However, bringing the stress home will only make matters worse. When you start to think about multiple chores and duties, your brain can go into an overdrive and work nonstop. This may seem alright in the beginning, as you can handle it. But, after some time has passed, you will feel the load.
- Find a trustworthy babysitter or child care provider. Take advice from friends, colleagues, neighbors, and family members as to where you can find a reliable child care provider. Make sure you do a thorough research on whomsoever you choose before entrusting them with your child's safety and well-being. When you know your baby is safe, you will be able to pay better attention at work.
- If you don't feel that full-time work is possible, at the moment, choose to work part-time or work from home. It is actually a wonderful idea because this way, you, your family, and your baby will be able to familiarize with the change taking place. You can try this for a month or so, however much time you require, and discuss with your husband/partner whether full-time work is feasible.
- Now comes the point where we discuss breastfeeding. This will depend on how old your baby is when you decide to go back to work. If your baby is still breastfeeding, then you'll have to decide whether to wait till your baby stops breastfeeding or get a pump instead. You can store breast milk and have someone else bottle-feed your baby, when you're at work. As and when you need to, pump milk in order to store it. If you have to do this at work, suggest a workable schedule and discuss it with your boss. This way, there won't be any issues.
- If you are in a position to delegate tasks at work, take the opportunity. Many a time, we tend to take more responsibilities than we can handle. This is the number one reason why some of us are stressed and fatigued all the time. So, if you can assign some of the duties to your colleagues or team members, don't be afraid to do it. Trust me. You will return home with a better attitude and more energy than before.