It’s perfectly natural to feel torn between your roles at work and at home, especially when you’ve just had a baby
In terms of managing work duties, you might want to have a chat with your supervisor to discuss ways to make small adjustments to your work arrangement or schedule. For example, in firms that allow some flexibility, you might negotiate for a weekly half-day or one-day work-from-home arrangement. If you were previously travelling extensively, there might be some areas that you can now consider replacing with a Zoom meeting.
For many new mothers, one area of life that has changed would be the availability to take part in social engagements. For many working mothers, hanging out with colleagues is a wonderful way to get to know their co-workers better. It is also a good way to destress. Unfortunately, when time is limited, social gatherings will often be the one activity that new mothers give up. This need not be the case, if you adopt a systematic approach to organising your time.
On the work front, to continue participating in out-of-office social gatherings with your colleagues, there are three arrangements you can consider:
- Limit your time spent at gatherings
- Ask for a child-friendly set-up
- Ask and arrange for help at home
