After having a baby, getting back to work can be one of the most difficult things. You are likely to have a million different things running through your mind. You may be feeling guilty about leaving your child. You may be feeling anxious about being back in the workplace after so long. You may even be questioning whether you want to go back to the job you had before you gave birth. So, let’s take a look at some tips on getting back into work after having a baby…
Find the ‘working’ you again – You have had numerous months of not working, and so you need to get back into the swing of things again. This could be as simple as arranging a lunch date with your co-workers.
Don’t feel like you have to go back to the job you had before – A lot of women assume that going back to work is their only option. It is never the only option. Now would be a good time to start thinking about what you really want. Perhaps you want to take a Masters Operations Management course and have a change of career? Maybe you want to start working from home? Perhaps you want to start making crafts and selling them online? Don’t be afraid to embrace a change.
Make sure flexibility works both ways – Don’t be afraid of asking for a bit of flexibility in your schedule. Your boss will appreciate that you are a new parent. However, if you are going to expect flexibility, you should give it back. Make sure you are prepared to give something more to your job whenever you can. If you do this, you will find your boss will be much more willing to accommodate your requirements.
Find out the right working pattern for you – Flexible working does not mean that you need to work on a part-time basis. You need to figure out what works for you. This could mean job sharing or working from home. It could also mean project working online, delaying your start or finish so you can pick up your children, or it could mean compressing your working day to five hours or so.
Acknowledge your skills – Last but not least, having a baby doesn’t mean that your career has fallen by the wayside. In fact, it could enhance your career. After all, you will have picked up skills that you did not have before, and you will advance some of your current skills. This includes the likes of time management, multi-tasking, and creative problem-solving.
Hopefully, you now feel more prepared for going back to work after having your baby. This can be incredibly difficult, but one thing you should never feel is guilty. You need to do what is right for you. There is no rulebook; it is your life and only you know what is right for you in terms of your career once you have given birth.
