When it comes to going back to work post-baby, you don’t need to complete an HR management course online to realise that it’s not necessarily going to be easy. But there are certain ways you can make your return to work easier after becoming a parent.
Our tips? Decide what your work commitment will entail before you set foot back into the office. Another element to arrange in advance? Your family’s childcare schedule. While you’re planning and organising your return to work, why not lean into meal prepping as well? Finally, and perhaps most importantly, don’t forget to look after yourself, too.
Here’s how to do it.
Back to Work Tip # 1: Decide What Your Work Week Looks Like
Returning to work looks different for every parent. So, be sure to speak to your employer about what your work commitment will involve before you go back to work.
Do you want to return to work full-time, or is it perhaps more realistic for you to commit to part-time hours? Maybe you only want to commit to working 2 or 3 days a week. If that’s the case, it’s a good idea to prearrange which days you will be working. Perhaps, for you, that looks like working the same set of days every week. Or, you may wish to alternate your work days depending on your changing commitments each week.
While you’re chatting with your employer, it’s also a good idea to confirm your work location. Will you be required to be in the office on all of your working days, or will you have the flexibility to work from home if you need to? Perhaps your employer will allow for a hybrid work model, to give you the best of both worlds.
Back to Work Tip # 2: Set Up a Childcare Schedule
Another benefit of pre-arranging your working week? You’ll be able to line your work days up with your childcare days.
On this note, you’ll also need to prepare your family for the transition to starting childcare. There are a few things to consider. Perhaps most importantly, you’ll need to get your child – and yourself – emotionally ready for them to attend childcare. This may be one of the first times you’ve let your child out of your sight or left them in the care of someone else. For this reason, it’s common for many parents – and their children – to experience separation anxiety when starting childcare for the first time, and you’ll need to be mentally ready for this.
Back to Work Tip # 3: Consider Meal Prepping in Advance
With so much on your plate, the last thing you’ll feel like doing is to come home from work and have to cook a meal for your family. You’ll likely already be exhausted from your day, and your inspiration when it comes to cooking dinner may be lacking.
Save yourself the heartache by meal prepping in advance. Plan out your meals for the week ahead on a Sunday afternoon, for example. Then, prepare bulk portions of your family’s favourite healthy dishes to dole out during the week.
Back to Work Tip # 4: Look After Yourself, Too
As a working parent, you’ll have a lot on your plate. Juggling work, home and family life is no easy feat, and you may at times be overwhelmed by all of your commitments. If this is the case for you, take time out to look after yourself. Yes, it can be easy to forget to look after ourselves when we’re busy looking after everyone else. But self-care is an essential coping strategy for busy parents, not just a luxury.
As well as this, you may also be feeling emotional about being separated from your baby while you’re at work. These feelings are valid, and it’s also normal to feel anxious, or even guilty, about being away from your child. If you ever start feeling this way, remember that it’s okay to seek help. Talking to a therapist about the way you’re feeling can be a great way to get through it, and it can also teach you how to cope with your busy life as a working parent.
