Whether you’ve been home for a few months or a few years, heading back to work can be intimidating. Not only are you worried about leaving your children, you’re worried about your skills, your wardrobe, and maybe even your ability to carry on adult conversation. Fortunately, there are some things you can do to make the transition go more smoothly.
Find Out What You’ve Missed
Things change fast these days, especially when it comes to technology. Maybe that sales meeting you used to travel for twice a year is now done over Skype.And sometimes technology changes the work itself. Social media, for instance, have completely changed the way businesses approach marketing.
You may not need to be an expert by the time you go back to work, but you don’t want to look like you’ve been living under a rock, either. Even if you haven’t mastered all of the changes in your industry, you should at least be aware of them.
Polish Your Skills
Some skills get rusty when they’re not used, so it’s a good idea to drag them out and brush up before your first day back. If you’re a writer, try writing a few articles or blog posts. If you’re an accountant, go online and review the most current accounting rules.
If you’re a doctor, you may not be able to practice surgery at home, but you can certainly read through a few medical journals.
Get Back In Touch
If you’re going back to your old job, reach out to your colleagues before your first day back. Let them know you’re looking forward to working with them again. Find out what’s changed: who left the company, who got promoted or changed positions, who’s been hired, etc.
Ideally, meet for lunch or for a drink after work. If you can’t do that, get in touch through email or a phone call.
Check Your Wardrobe.
Depending on how long you’ve been a stay-at-home mom, your clothes may not be in style anymore. Or they may not fit. No matter how hard you’ve worked to stay in shape, your body probably isn’t quite the same as it was before you had children. The last thing you want to worry about your first morning back is what to wear.
Take a look through your closet. Are your work clothes still in style? Can they be updated with a jacket, scarf, or accessories? Do they fit? If not, can they be altered, or do you need to go shopping? And what about shoes? Many women are surprised to discover that their pre-pregnancy shoes don’t fit anymore.
Look Your Best.
There are a lot of things about going back to work that are out of your control, like changes in your industry. Your appearance is one thing you can do something about. Having confidence in your appearance will give you one less thing to worry about. Unfortunately, that’s something a lot of stay-at-home moms let slide.
If your appearance has been low on your priority list, it’s time to bump it up a few notches. If you used to wear makeup, make sure you have what you need on hand for your first day. Think about whether your hair needs a trim or a color update, and decide how you’ll wear it the first day.
Planning reduces stress, and that’s as true for returning to work as it is for anything else. If you’re confident of your skills, are ready for any changes that may have taken place, and feel good about your appearance, your return to the working world will be much smoother.