Returning to work after maternity leave is something that is tough for anyone, however, you’re not alone in feeling worried, nervous, or even terrified.
After having a baby you struggle with several months of sleep deprivation, your clothes no longer fit you the same, and you’re hair has started to thin. Having a baby and all the things that come with it can sometimes knock your confidence. The before you know it, your maternity leave is over, and for most people that means returning to work. It can certainly be hard too.
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Someone else has been doing your role, and the worries start to kick in. Did they like this person better, what is work happy hour, and why did they introduce it? Will they continue it once I return?
Although it’s much easier said than done, try not to worry about it, many people have gone and come back from maternity leave and the people who are doing your role while are away, were very aware that it was just a temporary position.
But if you are still worried, have a look at the nine tips below, they should help you to feel more confident and prepared for starting back at work:
Stay In Touch With Your Colleagues
It can be hard, you’re very much in a baby bubble, forced on more so by the maternity leave. However, the longer you leave it, the harder it will become. Text your work friends, email your colleagues, try to stay in the loop. It can be easy to get missed off the list for things when you are on maternity leave.
You could even go to the Christmas party if you feel up to it and ready. You can have a glass of your favorite drink for dutch courage, but keep the drinking to a minimum, remember you’ve just had around a year off drinking so it could hit your hard. Unless you want to be crying, dancing on tables, and making a fool of yourself stick to soft drinks or water.
If they’re going on a team lunch, ask them to let you know. If you’re feeling a little bit nervous then you could ask one of the friendlier people in the team to meet a little bit before, as a little bit of extra support. Yes, we’re all adults but being away from the team and workplace can make your first-day jitters very real again.
A good idea for you to use is taking your little one for a visit to see everyone in the office, it’s a brilliant ice breaker, they will love it and not so much attention will be on you.
Just stick to whatever is comfortable for you.
Meet Up With Your Manager
It doesn’t need to be anything formal, just ask them to meet for a costa or a quick cuppa in the office. Ask about any updates about the company or the team. Such as, has anyone new started? How have sales been recent? If there any new products? Have there been any major changes to protocols? This will benefit in two different ways. One, it will help to keep you up to date with what has been going on and two, it also shows that you are still interested in the company. You haven’t completely forgotten about them while you’ve been off.
Use Your Keep In Touch (KIT) Days
One of the best things that you can do is go into work and make use of your Keep in touch days. It will prepare you for any changes that have happened, make your first day back much less scary, plus it may actually give you the confidence boost to say ‘I can do this’. Noe to mention the fact you will be able to enjoy a hot cup of tea and go for a week when you want. Why not use your KIT days to:
- Reduce your nervousness about actually been at work. (the baby brain can take over) Once you’ve done a couple, the nerves will be gone.
- Get updates from your manager and colleagues about what has been happing while you’ve been away.
- Meet new employees.
- Gain an understanding of any new systems.
- Have a catch up with your work friends over a hot cup of tea.
- To train in any new part-time roles when you return, or to decide on the hours you want to do when you return.
- If you’re in the UK you get paid too, which is great when you’re on maternity pay.
Look At Your Childcare Options In Advance
While one of the best bits about going nack to work after maternity id the fact you are doing something for you, and although, your work is obviously paying some of the mortgage, the bills and fro looking after your child, the worst part is the fact you have to leave them to do it. The best way for you to cope with this new life is to make sure you are aware of your childcare options in advance.
Arrange visits at nurseries and childminders as soon as you can, take your child with you and see if you like it. If you can see that your baby is going to happy and settle at your chosen place, it will certainly take a weight off of your shoulders.
Make sure you look at reviews and things like Ofsted reports and also have a look at any help you may be eligible for.
Make Your Work, Work For You
Think about your responsibilities after your maternity, and think about what you want to do. You need to go back to work. Now that you’ve had some time off with your new baby, you are now hopefully less sleep-deprived and are now able to think about your old role/hours and assess if they are still suitable for your new circumstances. All employees have the right to request flexible working arrangements like part-time hours, working from home, and job sharing. In the Uk your need to have been working with the same company for 26 weeks before you can apply for this.
Meet Up With Your Work Friends
Get your work friends to update you on the ins and outs of what’s happened since you’ve been gone so you don’t feel entirely out of the loop. Try not to ask too much about your replacement though. Nothing they can tell you will make you feel any better about the fact someone else has been you for 12 months.
Give Yourself A New Look
Work gives them nice reasons to get up and dressed up smartly instead of been covered in baby sick, food, milk, poo, etc. This is often one of the top reasons people actually look forward to returning to work, the chance to be clean all day. I may seem shallow, but it can be a really be morale boost just when you need it most. Why not give yourself a little bit of a wardrobe revamp and treat yourself to some post-maternity workwear? It may not seem like the best idea when you’re on the last month of maternity pay, however, there’s nothing saying you can’t treat yourself with your first full payback. Make sure if you are using old clothes, you try them all on as your body may have changed after pregnancy.
Be Practical
Always, always, always, prepare the night before. This way when it comes to the day ahead you can approach it as cool as a cucumber. Complete a practice run of all the timings, and get to know how long it takes you to get ready in the morning. In your first week try some of these tips to get you ahead of the game:
- Hire a cleaner, just for a few weeks.
- Do an online shop instead of needing to go to the shop.
- Plan your meals in advance, that way you won’t be worrying about it when you get home from a day at work.
- Make some meals ahead, and freeze them.
- Treat yourself to an end of week takeaway.
Try to plan ahead for everything from what you are going to be wearing and eating through to repackaging the baby bag and your lunch the night before. It will save you so much time in the morning, and take away unneeded stress.
Be Kind To Yourself
Even though you have a child try to get the sleep that you need, and never over commit yourself to things outside of family life and work in the first few days or weeks. Make sure you relax and allow yourself to have some treats. Keep in the back of your mind that you’re not going to be able to do everything straight away and getting used to new things like work protocols and a new routine will take some time to perfect.
Hopefully, you have found this post useful. Are you going back to work from maternity leave soon? Are you excited or nervous? Good luck with it, and please share some of your thoughts in the comments below.
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