Tips to take stress out of returning to work

Returning to work after maternity leave or a career break can feel exciting, emotional, overwhelming, and challenging all at once. Balancing work, family, relationships, and personal well-being requires planning, flexibility, and self-awareness. However, with the right support systems, healthy boundaries, and realistic expectations in place, returning to work can become a more positive, balanced, and fulfilling experience for both you and your family.

Prepare for going back to work after a career break or maternity leave. It will help you feel in control and take the stress away.

Here’s how to make returning to work more pleasant and joyful for you and your family.

Planning childcare and support systems

Childcare is often the number one worry that needs to be sorted. Whether you choose a nursery, a nanny, or a childminder, you will make the decision that is suitable for your circumstances.

However, flexibility in timings is essential. You can’t control train delays or last-minute emergency meetings, and being home late or being able to pick your child up at a different time will be a great reassurance.

Sometimes a backup plan with a babysitter or next door’s au pair might just do the trick.

It is worthwhile thinking through all scenarios and making arrangements for the unexpected. It will give you peace of mind.

Finding balance between your roles

Define your three most important roles in life. It could be mum, a professional and partner or a friend.

Explore how much time you need to play each role to be happy. Then put a system in place that will help you to balance the roles.

Remember, if you are a happy and balanced person, everybody in your environment will benefit.

Put boundaries in place, communicate clearly about those and stick to them.

Once you know what a good balance for you is, talk it through with all parties involved.

What is the number of hours you want to work? How many are you expected to? When is your quality time with the kids?

Allow for this dedicated time, which should not be taken up by something or someone else. Equally, with partners or friends.

Setting healthy boundaries

You may appear rude and uncaring when you don’t immediately respond to a request, but a boss, a child and a friend can usually wait if they know you will be there for them at the agreed time.

With boundaries clear, play one role at a time; be the professional at work, be the mum at home, be yourself with friends and partners.

The clarity this brings will help to guard your defined balance and your happiness.

Letting go of perfectionism

Let go of perfectionism. With so many balls in the air, things are not going to be perfect and do not need to be.

If internet shopping offers you an extra three hours of free time, embrace the free time and accept that your apples were not your first choice brand.

Let the house be less organised because the nice weather allowed for some great time in the park.

Learning to de-stress and adapt

A busy life requires concentration, alertness and focus. This can easily turn into tension and nervousness, but with the right relaxation in place, you will be able to prevent that.

Learn to do short meditations that you can practice a few times a day, perhaps find a Zumba class or take up piano lessons.

Look at life as a ‘work in progress’ and an ‘ever-changing process’ with a positive attitude.

What works today may not be effective in a month. Even if all systems are working, keep on top of them and make changes when you need to.

If you are going through a tough patch, don’t forget it is temporary.

Don’t forget to have fun

Above all: don’t lose track of the most important emotion...FUN!

Laugh about situations and misunderstandings. Find that lightness and let it shine through.

It will make you and everyone around you feel lighter and happier.

And that is ultimately what we are all after: stress-free and fulfilling happiness with our loved ones.