Navigating returning to work after maternity leave can be a challenging and emotional experience at the best of times, but with the continuing implications from the coronavirus pandemic meaning more of us are now working from home, it can be even more difficult to get back into a working routine and create boundaries between our work and family lives.
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So how can you balance your career and child, without sacrificing your sleep, sanity or self-care? Millie Poppins, The Motherhood Journey Coach, has shared five top tips mums need to know…
Build Childcare Confidence
Knowing your child is being loved and cared for while you work will give you peace of mind and allow you to focus on your work day. Scope out childcare options early and take time to get to know your caregiver(s). Take full advantage of settling in periods at nursery or childminder’s and ask any questions you have.
Hiring a Nanny? Try to have them start a little early, on a reduced schedule, so you can spend time with your baby together and you can practise being away for short periods at first. If you’re doing a Nanny share, schedule in some playdates with both families.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Set Boundaries
If your working hours change, make sure your colleagues/clients are clear on what your new normal is and discuss how you can best work together in a way that makes sense for all. Ensure everyone is aware of when you are and aren’t available online. This is important for WFH life too – it’s exhausting to be in “parent” and “work” mode all at once, so set boundaries with yourself to try to avoid this happening.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
READ: Overcoming judgement in motherhood
Schedule your pumping time
If you’re pumping at work, diarise a decent amount of time to do it. Making this a non-negotiable time slot helps keep it from being a point of stress. If possible, have a pump just for work that you can leave there. Make sure you have a comfortable space to pump in – ask HR or your office manager if one is not apparent.⠀⠀⠀⠀
Make time for you
I know, impossible right? But also paramount – you can’t be the parent or working woman you want to be if you don’t take care of yourself. Take your lunch hours and fresh air breaks and savour them – even when it’s ten minutes – you deserve that coffee all to yourself, you deserve it! Can you fit an hour of yoga/ swimming/ whatever per week? If you’re a morning person are you able to get some time to yourself each week?
Winging it, sorry… working from home
You may be in a tricky situation where local childcare options are closed to you due to C, and you’re running your own business, freelancing, or not on furlough. WFH in this way isn’t going to be easy, but just know that there isn’t a one size fits all approach – find what works based on you and your child – their routine, sleep patterns, feeding times, also whether you have a partner at home or any other form of support. Keep communicating with those you work with and go easy on yourself.
Getting through each day of home working/ childcare is a miracle in itself. Some days will be harder than others and you will get less done. But if you can do this, you can take on the world – now it’s on its way to being bigger than the size of your living room.
Visit Milliepoppins.com for more of Millie’s tips and support, and masterclasses on everything from weaning to introducing a bottle.