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Returning to work after having a baby can bring about a mix of emotions.  Worry.  Excitement. Guilt.  Confusion.  And where did I put my confidence when I went on maternity leave?

I enjoyed 2 stints of maternity leave from my previous corporate day job.  Every time I stepped back into the office for a ‘keep in touch day’ there were more new faces, less familiarity and it just felt too damn weird for words walking around your office with a baby in a stroller!

That said it is important you have a plan for when you return to work and here are some of my top tips to getting back into work:

  1. Get organised.  Work out how many days you would like to go back and maybe can afford to do. Think about what days would work for you and the business you are in.  Then you need to start looking at your care options.  Daycare, preschool, friends or family all become part of the grand plan in order to help you go back to work worry-free.  Getting organised is the bit that worries us so get it out the way early on
  2. Back up plan – what will happen on the days that your child is not well?  What entitlements will you have from work – can you have make up days at Kindy?  This will happen so get a plan in place so not to be taken off balance.
  3. Keep in touch – keep talking to your managers, colleagues and find out who and what is new.  I find LinkedIn a useful tool to have a look at who has joined your business in the time you have been away.  Keep up to date with news and trends from your connections.
  4. Feel confident – go and get your wardrobe updated.  It only has to be with a few key pieces so long as they fit well and make you feel good.
  5. Be aware of your rights. You can learn more from the Fair Work website – you may not have to go in for battle but you do need to be aware of your entitlements when going back to work.
  6. Be flexible.  You may find when you return to work that it has not worked out as planned.  It is ok to speak up and be flexible on your days, hours or even the role you have.  If it does not feel right it may just be that your time is done and you need to consider other options.

Some women love going to work and skip out the door without a thought and there are others that find it heartbreaking to leave their little ones.  Remember that time helps.

It will get easier for both you and your baby.

Be kind to yourself.

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  • going back to work soon after being away from work for a year. it’s just going to be one day a week but i am already feeling so much mixed emotions. The thought of going back to work is somehow exciting and yet you feel kind of down that you can’t be with your baby.

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  • I’m worried about going back to work too. I know my baby girl will be ok, I’m the one who’ll struggle more. ;-)

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  • Good article ive never returned to work in an office but i now work from home but I find that home life is always distracting me LOL but I dont mind I still get to do everything.

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  • love these 6 tips, they will be helpful

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  • I went back to works at 3.5 weeks. Although part time, I logged having the time away when I wasn’t responsible for another human for a few hours here and there!

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  • Well said thanks for the information

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  • i have just starter working four hours a week in my parents business – a little extra money is nice but i will be happy to work a lot more when my little one is off too kindy! great tips though :)

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  • I couldn’t return to work when my child was young would have hated to miss his first steps

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  • Some good advice – thanks for sharing

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  • This is a great article. I am nervous about going back to work and this sure has some tips to reassure me

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  • We’re trying to budget so that I don’t have to go back to work until our little one starts school

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  • Thank you! This is great

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  • I enjoyed reading – thanks for sharing.

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  • interesting read, thanks for sharing

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  • I really need to go back to work after having our twins it was the hardest thing I had to do .. I was so upset my hubby told me to quit … We pulled our belts in really tight then I did not go back until they where four. I felt better than because they could tell me if something was not right.

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  • I love working 2 days a week, it’s great for everyone I think

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  • Thanks loved reading this just about to start back at work.

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  • I’ll be starting from scratch when I return to the workforce and haven’t yet decided what it is I would like to do. Still have a couple of years before I have to worry about it

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  • i too am terrified of going back to work…i can’t even go to a restaurant with my hubby without worrying about my bub let alone work!! LOST!!

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  • I’m scared of going back to work let alone what I’m going to do.

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