5 Tips for Transitioning Back to Work after Parental Leave

Business and babies don’t really mix well. When it’s time to go back to work after parental leave, it can be a huge transition as you navigate childcare and get back into the swing of things at your office. It’s always challenging to leave your baby when you go to work, but that shouldn’t disrupt the strong connection you already have with them.

Juggling your work, baby duties, social life, chores, volunteer responsibilities, and exercise isn’t going to be easy -- but it will be worth it. You’re doing a great job as a parent and all you really need is to stay organized and flexible to get through this transition period. To help you out, we’ve rounded up some tips to help balance going back to work with a baby at home.

Ask for Remote Work

Instead of returning to the office, a lot of parents are choosing to work remotely after their parental leave. For some, this works really well because you can keep your baby beside you in your home office while you work and your baby rocks in a baby swing. It does blur the lines between work and home, however, so it is not for everyone. If you are interested in working from home, try talking to your work supervisor and see if it might be an option for you.

Use Your Mornings Wisely

It’s a bit of a cliche, but what you do in the morning sets the tone for your whole day. When you have a baby, this is even more true. It’s good to establish a morning routine that you can rely on with the baby to eliminate stress. Then, once you arrive at work, start with the most challenging tasks first so that you can be sure to get them done. You never know when you might get a call that you need to head home to do something for the baby and it’s best if you have already checked off some of your to-do’s.

Draw a Line Between Work and Home Life

It can be really hard to fully shut off from work when you are at home and vice versa. However, it’s necessary. At work, thinking about the baby and chores you need to do at home will only distract you and keep you in the office for longer. When you go home, you should switch your focus to spending quality time with your little one without having to answer phone calls and emails. Having a solid work life balance is not only good for you, but also for your kids.

Involve Your Child in Work Social Events

Does your office have any social gatherings coming up? The next one that you’re invited to, why not bring the baby along? This will give your team a chance to get to meet them and will help your colleagues and supervisor better understand where your priorities are. Seeing a sweet little baby will likely melt their hearts so that you can be in a better position to ask for more flexibility should you need it.

Use the Talk to Text Function on Your Phone

Where possible, let technology help make your life easier. It can be great to detox from phones when you are at home, but it’s not always practical. More than likely, you’ll think of things for work while you are at home and will need to write them down. Instead of reaching for a notebook, simply take voice notes on your phone and you can slide those into an email or report later.