Boosting Productivity as a New Mom Returning to Work: Strategies for Balance and Focus
- jessevisionfactory
- Aug 26
- 4 min read
Author: Magdalena Simova
Women who decide to have a child face many challenges.
One of the challenges is returning to work after maternity leave.
This includes managing a new routine with the baby, setting realistic expectations, delegating at home and at work, creating boundaries between family and work, and more.
In this article, we focus on the life of a working mom and its challenges.
The Emotional and Physical Shift
Being a working mom is like being a superhero.
You have to manage many things at once.
A mom at home is something completely different from a working mom.
As a working mom, you have to adapt to a new routine with your baby.
When the child starts going to preschool, it’s emotionally challenging not only for the child, but also for the mother.
In a way, both of them are starting over.
They have to fit into a new environment and handle emotional changes.
The child is without the mother, and the mother is without the child.
Redefining Productivity After Motherhood
Mothers on maternity leave often feel the need to do everything around the house.
But that’s a mistake.
They should encourage their children to be independent from an early age and involve their husbands in the daily running of the household.
Many women sacrifice themselves completely for the family during maternity leave, and when they return to work, problems often arise — no one knows what to do, and everyone relies on the mother.
That’s why teaching independence is essential.
Practical Productivity Strategies for New Moms
Working mothers should seek help from family members and their husbands, as well as use various apps to better delegate household and work tasks.
Working moms should create a productivity strategy, for example:
Time-blocking for work and family - using calendars effectively such as Google Calendar. Try to keep work and commuting time separate from family time. When you're with your family, don't think about work, and when you're working, focus just on that. Use a calendar to plan your trips and meetings.
Setting realistic expectations - It doesn’t have to be perfect. You don’t have to get everything done in one day. Spread tasks out over a few days. For example, you don’t need to vacuum, mop the floors, and clean the bathroom and toilet all in one day. At work, set priorities — take care of urgent tasks right away and don’t put them off.
Leveraging technology - task management apps such as Microsoft To Do. Perfect for creating shopping lists or keeping track of tasks waiting for you at home or at work. You can set reminders, sort your tasks by importance, and plan your whole week — or even months ahead.
Delegating at home and work to free up mental load. Involve everyone in the housework. You have to remember that you're not alone in everything. You can make a task schedule on the fridge and include your husband and kids in the household chores. Every now and then, your husband can cook, too. To motivate the kids, you can give them stars for completed tasks.
Creating Boundaries Between Work and Family
Working mothers should be create boundaries between work and family.
If they don´t burn out, they also make time for themselves, such as hobbies and different activities.
Rest is prioritizing
A lot of women think that if they want a break from their kids, they're somehow taking love away from them — and they feel guilty about it.
But that’s not true at all.
Even just one hour for yourself can make a big difference.
A quiet moment, no noise, no screaming kids. You'll come back feeling like a new person.
As many women, as many preferences:
Some are happy with just an afternoon nap.
Others need to keep learning — they take different courses and enrich their lives with knowledge.
Some enjoy working in the garden, growing their own vegetables.
Others stay active by biking, running, or skating.
There are so many options — just choose what makes you happy and do what you love.
Building a Support Network
For working mothers, it is very important to have a strong support network around them that helps them manage the challenging balance between work and family life.
One of the fundamental pillars of this network are workplace allies such as mentors, HR professionals, and managers who understand the needs of mothers and actively support them.
These people can help create flexible working conditions, offer advice, and provide emotional support during stressful situations.
The second very important pillar is mom communities and peer support groups, where women can exchange experiences, tips on time management and childcare, and share the feelings they encounter.
Such communities provide emotional support and a sense of belonging, which can be a great source of motivation and energy for working mothers.
Building and maintaining this kind of support network is crucial for achieving a better work-family balance as well as for the personal growth and well-being of every working mother.
What should working mothers keep close to their hearts?
That they are not alone in everything, as they often think.
When they need help, they should turn to their family, colleagues, or specialists.
They need to learn to delegate tasks and be able to say no without feeling guilty.
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