How to Navigate Returning to Work as a Mom After a Break
Putting your career on pause to stay home with your kids was a big decision. It gave you more time to raise your little ones and enjoy every moment with them, but you might feel ready to get back to the workplace. Navigate the experience confidently by using these tips to return to work after a break. You’ll bounce back from your extended time off without missing a beat at home or your job.
embrace your authentic emotions
Parents sometimes push away their emotions to prioritize the emotional well-being of their children. While that’s admirable and necessary at times, it may only mask your growing anxiety about becoming a full-time employee again.
Don’t let your anxiety accidentally boil over by ignoring it. Recognize whatever you feel when you get quiet moments during the day. When you can name an emotion, it becomes easier to dismantle.
If the feelings never disappear, you could also bring them up with a therapist. Adults can experience symptoms of nine known anxiety conditions, which you shouldn’t have to grapple with alone. Taking care of your emotional well-being with or without professional help will make your home life easier and your work life more enjoyable.
find helpful anxiety outlets
Once you know you are anxious about specific parts of your upcoming lifestyle changes, use healthy outlets to release stress. Self-care habits are excellent ways to take care of yourself and manage whatever anxiety comes with your career. Consider ideas like these to find what works best for your mind:
Taking evening walks
Journaling
Crafting
Baking
Gardening
You’ll thrive as a parent and employee when anxiety isn’t filtering how you experience your everyday life. These self-care habits can prevent that from happening.
take care of your health
Going back to work is also an opportunity to prioritize your physical health. You’ll interact with more people daily, putting you at risk of contracting viruses and bacteria. Prevent yourself and your family from getting sick by supporting your physical well-being.
Talk with your doctor about taking a daily multivitamin to strengthen your immune system. They can also recommend dietary changes to strengthen your body with more nutrients in whole foods. Eating less junk food will give you energy, while the more nutritious food boosts your cognitive performance to help you thrive in the workplace.
set professional goals
Sometimes, parents feel like they’re floating in a sea of determined, forward-moving professionals after returning to work. Everyone has routines and goals while you’re starting over.
You’ll avoid this issue by setting achievable career goals. Try sharpening one professional skill each month, like public speaking by leading meetings. You'll know you're making progress each time you reach another goal marker.
If you’re unsure what you want to experience in your career, that could signal the need for a deeper connection with yourself. Anchor yourself with mindfulness techniques like answering journal prompts that guide you through introspective thoughts.
foster open communication at home
Check-in with your family regularly after your career resumes. Ask how each member is coping with the change in everyone’s routine. They’ll mention what’s working and what’s not so everyone can make necessary changes to make your family’s life more manageable.
prepare to return to work
You don’t need to worry about returning to work after a break. Remember tips like these to navigate the changes successfully as an individual and a family unit. You’ll thrive in the workplace by caring for yourself as much as you care for your kids.
Cora Gold is the Editor-in-Chief of women’s lifestyle magazine, Revivalist. She has a passion for writing about ways to live a happy, healthy, and fulfilling life, especially for new moms.