Taking leave to give birth to a child is a very emotional shift back to work for many of the mothers. Newborns have been bonding with them for months, and starting a routine that has to involve their career is overwhelming. New mothers experience a range of emotions, from sadness to anxiety to guilt to excitement among others. This is all completely normal and arises out of worry about work-life balance, career progress, and the welfare of their baby. Coping with these emotions is possible only by knowing that they are natural parts of the process and acting proactively to control them.
One of the first things anyone can do in the process of managing the emotional challenges going back to work is to recognize and accept feelings as they arise. It is normal to experience a range of emotions ranging from sad to having anxiety about balancing, to even excitement of getting back on foot and this career. These feelings have to be recognized and not suppressed, otherwise adjusting to the transition is easier.
For many new moms, postpartum emotional changes like mood swings, irritability, and even postpartum depression are normal. Entering back into the previous work environment can be stressful and these feelings can become exacerbated. Going through this emotionally is something that can be handled when someone is seeking emotional support from their partner, close friends, family members, or even a therapist.
Many places of employment provide employee assistance programs with counseling services that can be very helpful for new mothers. The mental health should be of utmost importance. Mindfulness of sorts, deep breaths exercises, journaling – all can make a positive impact on emotional well being. At times when emotions exceed, it is best to get help instead of bearing them all alone.
Change to a work schedule which means going out from home and staying out even after staying home with a newborn requires careful planning. Having well-put-together work hours, childcare arrangements, and personal growth makes the transition easier. The morning routine for new mothers should be established to give them time to prepare for the workday without rushing.
Generally, working mothers face the big issue of having to find a babysitter. No matter, if it’s choosing a daycare, hiring a nanny, or relying on family members, knowing that the baby is going to be placed in a safe and nurturing place, can help instill a bit less anxiety. Both mother and baby can get accustomed to the new routine by doing a few trial runs before starting official work.
Flexible work arrangements however are something that many companies are starting to understand and many understand the issues of returning to work after maternity leave. There are some employers who would allow their workers work remotely, hours of work can be flexible, or phased return to full time work. Talking with an employer about these will help to create a work environment that accommodates a family life and career growth.
Having open communication with supervisors regarding how much work they have or if they need to pump, and when they can take a lunch break, can help. Most workplaces are willing to help new mothers out, especially when the talks are carried with a progressive yet appropriate attitude.
Working mothers are often afflicted with feelings of guilt. They fear they aren’t spending enough time with their child and worry the baby won’t be as well cared for as she would be if she was picked up by the mother or the grandmother. Having to work while being a mother doesn’t mean that you are not a loving and dedicated mother.
It can strengthen bond when you create special moment with the baby outside work hour. Maintaining a strong connection includes maintaining it with activities such as bedtime stories, bath time or weekend outings. While time may be precious, one should spend quality time instead of quantity and at least easing out the guilt.
Separation anxiety also affects both the mothers and the babies. Yet, it is natural to feel emotional when away from a child and there are definitely small steps that can make this easier. Other ways to cope with separation anxiety might be to keep a photo or video of the baby at work, have caregivers check in during breaks, or make plans to cuddle in the evenings. It is also hoped that the baby and mother will soon adapt to the new routine to make the process less stressful.
Working and family life balance requires setting boundaries. Professional responsibilities can only be focused when you are at work which will increase your productivity. Dedication of time to family away from work emails or calls at home brings a healthier balance.
Perfectionism has to be released. In the pursuit of achievement, many new mothers tend to burn out between these two roles. It helps to accept that some days are going to be less successful than others and prioritize the tasks you undertake so that the transition is smoother.
This can cause you to exhaust yourself if you handle everything on your own. Helping a partner, family members, or friends to complete household chores and childcare will reduce the burden. By sharing the responsibilities, mothers in combination can dedicate their energies to their career and their children.
Employers can also be the source of support. In a situation where work demands get excessively stressful, a discussion of workload adjustments could be performed, or getting help from a colleague for handling responsibilities more effectively.
One of the common ‘busyness subjects’ that mothers returning to work worry about is work-related stress. It can be overwhelming to try and fulfill deadlines, stay productive, yet better manage home life. By practicing stress management like prioritizing tasks, mindfulness, and taking intermittent breaks, it is possible to maintain emotional well-being.
Task breaking helps break larger tasks down in smaller steps. You can dodge the feeling of overwhelm by completing the high priority assignments first and gradually working on other ones.
It’s good to connect with coworkers, especially, if they are also parents. Working with a support group at one’s place of work allows one to talk about what one has gone through as a working mother and seek advice from those who have experienced the same things.
Several companies have parenting groups or employee resource programs that offer support to working parents. Sealing a perm may sound easy by only looking at it, however, the transition that occurs afterward is something for which everyone needs a backup plan.
Coming back from maternity leave, is a big life change, but if you take certain things in consideration, you can make it a pleasant and bearable one. Emotional reactions may occur, however, one can learn to cope with this by accepting the feelings, as long as one takes action. It can create a smoother journey looking for postpartum emotional support, setting boundaries and instituting a work life balance strategy.
If working mothers had more time, patience, and confidence, it would be completely manageable. Because every mother’s experience is different, you want to find what works for you professionally and personally because then, you are reaching full professional and personal fulfillment.
This content was created by AI