Your maternity leave is coming to an end and the idea of going back to work and finding your piles of files is stressing you out? Our advice to be organized, serene and attack on D-Day!
It’s been 16 weeks since you left your job to prepare for your delivery and then to take care of your newborn. the maternity leave allowed you to take care of your child during his first months… But the moment of the dreaded separation and return to work is approaching. In a few days, you will have to go back to the office and especially your piles of files. To this are sometimes added, inconvenient collaborators or employers… To avoid being dropped on D-Day and above all to avoid stressing, here are some tips for a Zen return to the office!
1 – Gently adapting to childcare
You have finally found the mode of care for your baby. Crèche, nanny or childminder… remains to prepare your little one (and you too) for the separation. It is during the last week of your maternity leave that you can gently and gradually accustom her to this new adaptation. At the rate of twenty minutes at the start, in your presence, then, little by little for a few hours, until leaving him alone with the nanny in the afternoon or the whole day. Eventually, your child will quickly pick up the pace (even if the first few days were accompanied by crying). Tell yourself that your baby is in good hands, and that he won’t spend the whole day in tears. Now it’s your turn to prepare for your return!
2 – Keep the link with your colleagues
Meetings, new goals, change of direction or departure of colleagues… A lot has happened during your absence. So as not to have the impression of coming back “like a stranger”, keep in touch with your colleagues. For example, by offering them lunch during your pregnancy, or simply by checking in by phone or email. There is always “a mole” who will tell you everything in great detail, so that you come back as if you left the place the day before.
3 – Know your rights as a young mother
You ask yourself a multitude of questions about your back to work ? How are you going to manage your new life as a mom and the workload you had before you were pregnant? To enable mothers to better reconcile work and family life, many facilities are offered by companies. So ask your HRD to find out how many days off you have if your baby falls ill, or the possibility of adapting your working hours and your right to breastfeed at your workplace…
4 – Pick up your pace and rest
Despite the short nights (even sleepless nights), you will have to pick up the pace. If the dad is a little more used to waking up in the morning with little sleep, ask him to take over the next few weeks to give the bottle in the middle of the night. If you are breastfeeding, do not hesitate to express your milk the day before, so as to gain a few minutes or a few hours of sleep.
5 – Have fun
Maternity clothes… very little for you. You were eager to find your line (you are almost there). For your return to work, treat yourself to some new clothes. Shoes, blouses, jackets will restore your self-confidence for a return to work in style.
6 – Do not culpaworry, nor worry
No, you did not abandon your child in the arms of a stranger. Nannies who mistreat babies, there are, unfortunately! But the one you called is perfect, don’t worry. So stop feeling guilty and worrying about your baby.
7 – A smooth return to work
No question of going back to work under stress. Take the time to dive back into your files, go through your hundreds of emails when you arrive without putting pressure on yourself.