Going back to work after having a baby can feel like a big transition, you’ve spent the last number of months caring for your little one and now it’s time to sacrifice some of that special time together & return to the working world. Whilst it's a chance to reconnect with your professional life and rediscover your own identity outside of being a parent, it also means navigating new routines and finding a new balance. It's a journey that’s both challenging and rewarding, where you get to find your groove in both the workplace and at home & I’ve come across some tips and tricks that have helped my family adjust to this new normal! 

• Get up before your little one(s)! Even 15 mins for a coffee to start the day and get on top of some emails or squeeze in a gym class, I always feel more prepared for the day ahead when I’m up first! 
• Divide and conquer. It’s not sexy but make a plan for the week with your husband/other half. Who’s doing creche drop off/pick up and what days, who’s cooking, doing the food shop, bedtime etc. Definitely takes more meal planning and less spontaneous trips to the supermarket but saves so much time. Switch it up, we’ve found by changing roles often it makes daily tasks less mundane. 
• Having a one year old and being a neat freak isn’t the most complementary duo! I’ve had to learn to embrace the mess that comes with the morning and evening play but always give myself a few mins once my daughter goes to bed to get the toys away, laundry sorted and her bag packed for the next day. I find it so much easier to switch off in the evenings once I know I’m organised and don’t have a list of jobs building up in the background. It also means you won’t get to Friday with a never ending pile of laundry to get on top of! 
• Make sure you bake in time during the week to see friends/ do activities you enjoy and have some time to yourself! You don’t have to feel guilty for having a life away from work and your little one and by taking time to do a yoga class in the evening or meet a friend for dinner, changes up the routine and makes you appreciate the time with your little one so much more. 
• It’s not a competition. My husband has to travel to London for work a couple of times a month and there have been times that I’ve resented him off on a jolly having all this time to himself when in actual fact it’s the opposite, he’s working hard and wishing he was at home. When things feel difficult or unbalanced it’s so important to communicate and realise that you are both on the same team!
• Know that they are having a blast! When I collect my daughter in the evenings, I cannot believe the amount she’s done during the day, I’m sure there are Mum’s who are well able to entertain their kids in this way but I know when I was on mat leave I was not doing painting/ building sand castles/ making play dough/ baking cupcakes/ playing in ball pits and fitting in so much fresh air and playground time each day. She’s loving life and that’s all that matters.
• Make one weekend day a family day. Life is busy, but we always try to spend either a Sat or Sunday together as a family. I know regular date nights are also important but given my recent return to work, our personal priority at the moment is spending time with our daughter and we find that we get plenty of time together when she goes to bed in the evenings anyway.

It’s a daunting process, especially if it’s after your first child like it was with me but being honest it’s been the best change for all of us. My daughter is thriving and so happy, and I’m loving this new chapter as a working mum. Don’t get me wrong, it takes a lot more organisation and planning but the smiles at the end of the day when you collect or get home to your little one make it all worth it!