You’ve made it through the anxieties of pregnancy...
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You’ve made it through the anxieties of pregnancy, the joy and exhaustion of bringing a baby into the world, and the first few crazy months of parenting. Taking care of a newborn 24/7, especially if you’re a first-time parent, is a rollercoaster. But returning to work can also bring up a lot of emotions. Whatever the end of parental leave means to you, here are some tips to ease the transition.
For some parents, the thought of being away from their little one for even a minute is terrifying. For others, they can’t wait to get a break from the baby talk and back to giving presentations. And for many parents, they feel a combination of these things! Know that there’s no wrong way to feel about returning to work: angry, excited, scared, sad, relieved, confused. But remember: if you’re feeling despair, hopelessness, or intense sadness, and have been feeling this way for more than a few weeks, please reach out to a trusted friend or a mental health professional.
It’s totally normal to have some anxiety about going back to work. One way to curb this is to think through all the problems you might encounter at work and plan ahead. Are there places you can pump in the office? Do you have a trusted colleague, whether a coworker, your boss, or someone in HR, that you can talk to if you’re struggling with something? Do you have office-ready clothes and shoes that fit comfortably? Is your meeting schedule set up so that you can manage childcare? Being at work can be comforting because it’s familiar, but remember that a lot has changed since you were last in the office. Make sure to think through what your average day might look like now to try and anticipate your needs.
By practicing some of the big changes, you can anticipate any issues! For example, if you’re hiring a nanny or dropping your child off at daycare, do this for a few days before you actually return to work. That way, you won’t have to stress about the logistics of childcare when you’re stressed about making it to work on time. Even if you work from home, practice what methods you’ll use to navigate working with your baby in the house—switching back and forth from parent to employee without a commute in the middle comes with its own challenges, but can also be comforting.
Managing the stress of working alongside childcare, errands, household chores—not to mention the emotional toll of leaving your baby every morning—can leave you stretched thin. Don’t be afraid to ask for help, whether it’s talking through a particularly difficult moment with another parent friend, letting a family member lend a hand with groceries, or just asking your partner to pick up some ice cream on the way home.
And last but not least: be kind to yourself. Having a baby is a huge change, and life will feel unpredictable for a while, but you are prepared to take on this challenge. And as a mom of 3, there’s nothing more rewarding than watching my kids pretend to “go to work” like mom—and I wouldn’t have it any other way. So set your alarm, lay out your favorite (comfortable!) outfit, put that breast milk in the freezer, and get a lot of sleep—ok, get as much sleep as possible.
You’ve made it through the anxieties of pregnancy...
You’ve made it through the anxieties of pregnancy, the joy and exhaustion of bringing a baby into the world, and the first few crazy months of parenting. Taking care of a newborn 24/7, especially if you’re a first-time parent, is a rollercoaster. But returning to work can also bring up a lot of emotions. Whatever the end of parental leave means to you, here are some tips to ease the transition.
For some parents, the thought of being away from their little one for even a minute is terrifying. For others, they can’t wait to get a break from the baby talk and back to giving presentations. And for many parents, they feel a combination of these things! Know that there’s no wrong way to feel about returning to work: angry, excited, scared, sad, relieved, confused. But remember: if you’re feeling despair, hopelessness, or intense sadness, and have been feeling this way for more than a few weeks, please reach out to a trusted friend or a mental health professional.
It’s totally normal to have some anxiety about going back to work. One way to curb this is to think through all the problems you might encounter at work and plan ahead. Are there places you can pump in the office? Do you have a trusted colleague, whether a coworker, your boss, or someone in HR, that you can talk to if you’re struggling with something? Do you have office-ready clothes and shoes that fit comfortably? Is your meeting schedule set up so that you can manage childcare? Being at work can be comforting because it’s familiar, but remember that a lot has changed since you were last in the office. Make sure to think through what your average day might look like now to try and anticipate your needs.
By practicing some of the big changes, you can anticipate any issues! For example, if you’re hiring a nanny or dropping your child off at daycare, do this for a few days before you actually return to work. That way, you won’t have to stress about the logistics of childcare when you’re stressed about making it to work on time. Even if you work from home, practice what methods you’ll use to navigate working with your baby in the house—switching back and forth from parent to employee without a commute in the middle comes with its own challenges, but can also be comforting.
Managing the stress of working alongside childcare, errands, household chores—not to mention the emotional toll of leaving your baby every morning—can leave you stretched thin. Don’t be afraid to ask for help, whether it’s talking through a particularly difficult moment with another parent friend, letting a family member lend a hand with groceries, or just asking your partner to pick up some ice cream on the way home.
And last but not least: be kind to yourself. Having a baby is a huge change, and life will feel unpredictable for a while, but you are prepared to take on this challenge. And as a mom of 3, there’s nothing more rewarding than watching my kids pretend to “go to work” like mom—and I wouldn’t have it any other way. So set your alarm, lay out your favorite (comfortable!) outfit, put that breast milk in the freezer, and get a lot of sleep—ok, get as much sleep as possible.
You’ve made it through the anxieties of pregnancy...
You’ve made it through the anxieties of pregnancy, the joy and exhaustion of bringing a baby into the world, and the first few crazy months of parenting. Taking care of a newborn 24/7, especially if you’re a first-time parent, is a rollercoaster. But returning to work can also bring up a lot of emotions. Whatever the end of parental leave means to you, here are some tips to ease the transition.
For some parents, the thought of being away from their little one for even a minute is terrifying. For others, they can’t wait to get a break from the baby talk and back to giving presentations. And for many parents, they feel a combination of these things! Know that there’s no wrong way to feel about returning to work: angry, excited, scared, sad, relieved, confused. But remember: if you’re feeling despair, hopelessness, or intense sadness, and have been feeling this way for more than a few weeks, please reach out to a trusted friend or a mental health professional.
It’s totally normal to have some anxiety about going back to work. One way to curb this is to think through all the problems you might encounter at work and plan ahead. Are there places you can pump in the office? Do you have a trusted colleague, whether a coworker, your boss, or someone in HR, that you can talk to if you’re struggling with something? Do you have office-ready clothes and shoes that fit comfortably? Is your meeting schedule set up so that you can manage childcare? Being at work can be comforting because it’s familiar, but remember that a lot has changed since you were last in the office. Make sure to think through what your average day might look like now to try and anticipate your needs.
By practicing some of the big changes, you can anticipate any issues! For example, if you’re hiring a nanny or dropping your child off at daycare, do this for a few days before you actually return to work. That way, you won’t have to stress about the logistics of childcare when you’re stressed about making it to work on time. Even if you work from home, practice what methods you’ll use to navigate working with your baby in the house—switching back and forth from parent to employee without a commute in the middle comes with its own challenges, but can also be comforting.
Managing the stress of working alongside childcare, errands, household chores—not to mention the emotional toll of leaving your baby every morning—can leave you stretched thin. Don’t be afraid to ask for help, whether it’s talking through a particularly difficult moment with another parent friend, letting a family member lend a hand with groceries, or just asking your partner to pick up some ice cream on the way home.
And last but not least: be kind to yourself. Having a baby is a huge change, and life will feel unpredictable for a while, but you are prepared to take on this challenge. And as a mom of 3, there’s nothing more rewarding than watching my kids pretend to “go to work” like mom—and I wouldn’t have it any other way. So set your alarm, lay out your favorite (comfortable!) outfit, put that breast milk in the freezer, and get a lot of sleep—ok, get as much sleep as possible.
You’ve made it through the anxieties of pregnancy...
You’ve made it through the anxieties of pregnancy, the joy and exhaustion of bringing a baby into the world, and the first few crazy months of parenting. Taking care of a newborn 24/7, especially if you’re a first-time parent, is a rollercoaster. But returning to work can also bring up a lot of emotions. Whatever the end of parental leave means to you, here are some tips to ease the transition.
For some parents, the thought of being away from their little one for even a minute is terrifying. For others, they can’t wait to get a break from the baby talk and back to giving presentations. And for many parents, they feel a combination of these things! Know that there’s no wrong way to feel about returning to work: angry, excited, scared, sad, relieved, confused. But remember: if you’re feeling despair, hopelessness, or intense sadness, and have been feeling this way for more than a few weeks, please reach out to a trusted friend or a mental health professional.
It’s totally normal to have some anxiety about going back to work. One way to curb this is to think through all the problems you might encounter at work and plan ahead. Are there places you can pump in the office? Do you have a trusted colleague, whether a coworker, your boss, or someone in HR, that you can talk to if you’re struggling with something? Do you have office-ready clothes and shoes that fit comfortably? Is your meeting schedule set up so that you can manage childcare? Being at work can be comforting because it’s familiar, but remember that a lot has changed since you were last in the office. Make sure to think through what your average day might look like now to try and anticipate your needs.
By practicing some of the big changes, you can anticipate any issues! For example, if you’re hiring a nanny or dropping your child off at daycare, do this for a few days before you actually return to work. That way, you won’t have to stress about the logistics of childcare when you’re stressed about making it to work on time. Even if you work from home, practice what methods you’ll use to navigate working with your baby in the house—switching back and forth from parent to employee without a commute in the middle comes with its own challenges, but can also be comforting.
Managing the stress of working alongside childcare, errands, household chores—not to mention the emotional toll of leaving your baby every morning—can leave you stretched thin. Don’t be afraid to ask for help, whether it’s talking through a particularly difficult moment with another parent friend, letting a family member lend a hand with groceries, or just asking your partner to pick up some ice cream on the way home.
And last but not least: be kind to yourself. Having a baby is a huge change, and life will feel unpredictable for a while, but you are prepared to take on this challenge. And as a mom of 3, there’s nothing more rewarding than watching my kids pretend to “go to work” like mom—and I wouldn’t have it any other way. So set your alarm, lay out your favorite (comfortable!) outfit, put that breast milk in the freezer, and get a lot of sleep—ok, get as much sleep as possible.
You’ve made it through the anxieties of pregnancy...
You’ve made it through the anxieties of pregnancy, the joy and exhaustion of bringing a baby into the world, and the first few crazy months of parenting. Taking care of a newborn 24/7, especially if you’re a first-time parent, is a rollercoaster. But returning to work can also bring up a lot of emotions. Whatever the end of parental leave means to you, here are some tips to ease the transition.
For some parents, the thought of being away from their little one for even a minute is terrifying. For others, they can’t wait to get a break from the baby talk and back to giving presentations. And for many parents, they feel a combination of these things! Know that there’s no wrong way to feel about returning to work: angry, excited, scared, sad, relieved, confused. But remember: if you’re feeling despair, hopelessness, or intense sadness, and have been feeling this way for more than a few weeks, please reach out to a trusted friend or a mental health professional.
It’s totally normal to have some anxiety about going back to work. One way to curb this is to think through all the problems you might encounter at work and plan ahead. Are there places you can pump in the office? Do you have a trusted colleague, whether a coworker, your boss, or someone in HR, that you can talk to if you’re struggling with something? Do you have office-ready clothes and shoes that fit comfortably? Is your meeting schedule set up so that you can manage childcare? Being at work can be comforting because it’s familiar, but remember that a lot has changed since you were last in the office. Make sure to think through what your average day might look like now to try and anticipate your needs.
By practicing some of the big changes, you can anticipate any issues! For example, if you’re hiring a nanny or dropping your child off at daycare, do this for a few days before you actually return to work. That way, you won’t have to stress about the logistics of childcare when you’re stressed about making it to work on time. Even if you work from home, practice what methods you’ll use to navigate working with your baby in the house—switching back and forth from parent to employee without a commute in the middle comes with its own challenges, but can also be comforting.
Managing the stress of working alongside childcare, errands, household chores—not to mention the emotional toll of leaving your baby every morning—can leave you stretched thin. Don’t be afraid to ask for help, whether it’s talking through a particularly difficult moment with another parent friend, letting a family member lend a hand with groceries, or just asking your partner to pick up some ice cream on the way home.
And last but not least: be kind to yourself. Having a baby is a huge change, and life will feel unpredictable for a while, but you are prepared to take on this challenge. And as a mom of 3, there’s nothing more rewarding than watching my kids pretend to “go to work” like mom—and I wouldn’t have it any other way. So set your alarm, lay out your favorite (comfortable!) outfit, put that breast milk in the freezer, and get a lot of sleep—ok, get as much sleep as possible.
You’ve made it through the anxieties of pregnancy...
