Becoming a mother is a transformative experience that brings immense joy, love, and challenges. When envisioning the return to work after maternity leave, many of us create well-thought-out plans to balance our professional lives with the responsibilities of motherhood. However, the reality of parenting often throws unexpected curveballs, making it crucial to adapt and find a schedule that works for us. In this article, I share my personal journey and offer practical insights on how to navigate the delicate balance between work and motherhood while prioritizing your well-being.

The Perfect Plan Shattered: Like many moms, I had crafted a seemingly perfect plan for my return to work. It involved waking up early, preparing meals, and hiring a nanny to care for my daughter during work hours. However, reality hit hard when my daughter turned out to be a “level 1 clinger.” She constantly sought my attention, interrupting my workflow every half hour. To make matters worse, her sleep patterns were erratic, leaving me tired. With my partner working full-time outside home it was all on me, leading to mental and physical exhaustion. I couldn’t help but compare myself to other moms who seemed to excel effortlessly in their careers and personal lives and felt like a failure.

The Epiphany: One day I had an epiphany: I had to embrace the unpredictability of motherhood and create a schedule that accounted for its variables. Recognizing that every day with children brings surprises, I understood that flexibility was key to finding balance.

Practical Tips for Navigating Work and Motherhood:

1. Create a personalized schedule: Establish a routine that suits your needs, even if it means cooking meals in advance or working out in the middle of the nigh. Block off dedicated time on your calendar for work and prioritize important tasks.I even block my work calender for pumping.
2. Seek help and delegate: Don’t hesitate to ask for support from your partner and colleagues. Make a list of household tasks your partner can handle, such as garbage disposal, laundry, grocery shopping, and vegetable preparation. On the work front, you can request your manager for a low depency project so you can work on it at any time of the day.
3. Remember, you don’t have to do it all: Prioritize and let go of perfectionism. Focus on what truly matters and let other tasks wait such as cleaning. Accept that you can’t be everywhere at once.
4. Prioritize your well-being: Take care of your physical and mental health. Incorporate exercise into your routine, take walks with your child to refresh your mind, and ensure you have time for self-care activities you love.
5. Take time off: Dedicate time for yourself, whether it’s spending time with friends or indulging in activities that bring you joy. It’s essential to recharge and nurture your own well-being.
6. Learn to say no: Set boundaries and don’t be afraid to decline requests that don’t align with your priorities or take away precious time from your family and yourself.
7. Celebrate your achievements: Remember to acknowledge and be proud of all that you have accomplished as a mother. Raising a child with love and a smile is a remarkable achievement in itself.

Conclusion: Navigating the complex terrain of work and motherhood is a learning curve unique to each individual. It’s crucial to embrace flexibility, adapt to unexpected challenges, and build a schedule that works for you and your family. Be kind to yourself, prioritize your well-being, and remember that there is no one-size-fits-all answer. Celebrate your accomplishments as a mom, knowing that you are doing your best and learning and growing along the way.