Returning to work

Lack of control is something which is difficult for me to accept and therefore I made the decision to take back control by focusing on what I could influence:

• Working out ‘my financial bottom line’: by understanding possible nursery costs and calculating take-home pay for all possible part-time scenarios as well as factoring in petrol money to get to work and back I was able to visualise a scenario which was palatable.

• Finding out if there was a Returner’s Programme at work. Being part of a network of people who are returning to work is a great way of getting support during this transition period.

• Reconnecting with colleagues: finding out what had happened while I was away, current challenges and opportunities helped colleagues know that I was engaged

• Personal brand: spending some time reflecting on my strengths, gaining confidence in talking about the value I brought to a team and thinking about what I wanted to be known for.

• Doing a few practice runs: I was lucky enough to be able to leave my son at the nursery for a few ‘taster’ sessions before I went back to work. This made the transition slightly easier and also allowed me to think through the logistics of the new drop off and commute routine

There are of course many other factors to consider, many of which will be personal to you. If you would like to spend some time exploring the transition back to work with me, I would love to here for you. Please do get in touch