From the Boardroom to Motherhood

I know this is supposed to be a business blog, but since having a baby and living my own philosophy (I believe there is no such thing as work-life balance; it’s all life, whether it’s work or family related), I decided to include my postpartum thoughts here.  Let’s be honest...there is no such thing as keeping your work at the office and your family at home. Work can be a positive for your family, and your family can be a positive for your work.  That is the only way you will be at peace. I know I was MIA during pregnancy.  It’s because I was working around the clock trying to get things done for a new work project before my maternity leave.  This project continued while I was on leave and is scheduled to launch shortly after I return to work.  Talk about major stressor for someone that likes to be on top of things.  I had to prioritize tasks and, unfortunately, my extracurricular activities, such as this blog, didn’t make the cut.  I apologize for that and appreciate your patience.  As for pregnancy, that was easy for me.  I still had control of my schedule (excluding the frequent bathroom breaks).  I could eat when I wanted to; I could sleep when I wanted to, and I could work out when I wanted to.  Postpartum, on the other hand is wild, up in the air and unplanned.  For someone as methodical and planned as me, with my background in project management, and living a predictable life for the past 31 years, this can be a BIG adjustment.  My daughter, Maggie, has taught me how to stay on my toes, maintain flexibility, and plan for the "unplannable".  These skills will all be a positive as I transition back to work.  I definitely have a new outlook on how to handle the unpredictable.  It’s like a computer "randomizer" has been dictating my life for the past 2 months.  The second you think you have the pattern figured out, it changes.  Talk about a BIG adjustment.  I mean project management is unpredictable and all because you know... humans.  But at least adults that are hired for a job with certain job requirements and adapted social norms are more predictable than an infant that has lived in this world less than 365 days.   I know I don’t have it all figured out.  But I did take notes and contemplated the things I wish I knew about postpartum before I met my beautiful bundle of joy.  As I close out my second month of motherhood, I wanted to share these tips with you and hope that you listen to them and they help you prepare/cope. Here are just a few tips to surviving the second month as a first-time mom transitioning from the #boardroom to #motherhood and back to the boardroom:

1. Trust Your Team to Hold Down the Fort. You Need Your Rest: This is a tough concept for someone type A like me. At first, you are going to feel like you should be doing something else, that you are letting your coworkers down, that your team needs you to make a deadline.  This is all normal considering you were just going full speed ahead at work most likely the same day you went into labor.  Ignore it all.  You need to focus on your recovery and tending to your new baby.  Trust your team.  They will eventually figure it out.  You need to bond with your baby, make them feel like an important part of your life, and rest.  

2. Don’t Read Emails. They Will Only Add to Your Stress: The adrenaline the first few days postpartum is real.  Make sure you rest even though you can’t technically settle down and you feel like you can run a marathon or lift a car.  You need this rest.  Don’t read your emails or start work before you return from leave.  This will only add to your stress and prevent you and your baby from living a healthy 4th trimester.

3. Don’t Worry. You Will Eventually Return to Your Normal: You will feel like all your brain cells have died, you can’t carry on a normal conversation, and you are socially awkward.  Not sure why, but I’m blaming it on exhaustion and hormones.  Just embrace it.  Laugh at yourself daily.  Warn your significant other and support system that this will happen because they are going to think you are a goofball.   Maintain good open communication on how you are feeling.  Don’t worry you will feel like yourself again in a few weeks or so. If you do not, please contact your doctor.  This is a cause for support as to why you shouldn’t be reading/writing emails for work.  It’s hard to spell correctly, focus on grammar, form cohesive thoughts, and comprehensively read when you are running off of no sleep and decaf coffee like I was.  I shared a good blog post at the end of this post about maternity leave goals to help you pace yourself back to YOUR normalcy.  

4. Don’t Worry. You Will Eventually Be Able to Balance Working and Mommy-ing: During the first few weeks, you are going to feel like you can never balance motherhood and the boardroom.  It’s a truly overwhelming idea especially if you need to work to provide for your family.  I know more often than not, eventually you will get more sleep (or become used to being sleep deprived), you will find a loop hold in this randomized baby schedule, and you will obtain your mental capacity back.  Like all things, it just takes time.  So please be patient with yourself and your baby.

5. Create Healthy Sleep Habits Early: Try your best to create healthy, consistent sleep habits for you and your baby.  You need to start this right away.  Whether it’s reading a book, bath time, brushing their hair, or singing a song before bed, you need to pick something that is easily accessible anywhere, anyone can implement it, and easy to sustain.  You need to be consistent as to when you put your baby in their pajamas and start this routine.  Each night I put my daughter, Maggie, in her pajamas at 7 pm.  We brush her hair, give her a dose of vitamin D, then put her owlet monitor on.  I do this whether I am at home or away no matter what.  I also ask my babysitter or other caretakers to do it as well if I am not able to.  Your baby will eventually associate these activities with bedtime making it much easier for them to go to bed.  Sleep is very important for you and your baby.  Especially when you return to work.   I shared a good blog post at the end of this post about sleep training.

6. TV is OK at First, But Then Read, Read, Read: Cut out the binge TV watching early.  In the first few weeks, you are going to watch TV because it will help you stay rested.  But once you feel like yourself again instead of watching TV, opt for reading a book or articles/journals that pertain to the industry you work in, or the topics you like.  This will help get your mind ready for work again without the pressure of deadlines.  Bonus, you learn something new.  

7. Take Time For Yourself With a Daily Walk: Lastly, take daily 1 hr walks for yourself as soon as your doctor permits.  You are used to making your own schedule 24 hours a day.  Claim at least 1 hour to yourself in motherhood.  This will give you some “alone” time whether you have your baby with you or not.  Your newborn will most likely sleep because of the movement.  You can either put them in the stroller or a baby carrier.  Walks are good for you mentally and physically. There are other topics I did not address in this blog, such as having a childcare plan for your return back to work, because I feel there are many valuable resources online pertaining to those topics.  I have shared a good blog post below about returning back to work. Whether you are pregnant and nervous about maternity leave, or on maternity leave and nervous about returning to work, implementing these seven tips can help calm your nerves. I look forward to writing a blog in the near future about my return to work.  It is important for mothers to make a healthy transition to motherhood and back to work so they can succeed as an employee within a company and be a positive contributor to the #bottomline.  I hope my thoughts have helped you plan for this transition.  Please subscribe to my blog and follow me on Instagram to read my discussions #aboutthebottomline and my journey from boardroom to motherhood and back to the boardroom.   Resources Maternity Leave Goals: https://myprettypennies.com/2016/04/04/maternity-leave-goals/?utm_medium=social&utm_source=pinterest&utm_campaign=tailwind_tribes&utm_content=tribes&utm_term=462539452_16154078_205118

Sleep Training:  http://thebestofthemiddle.com/what-to-do-when-your-baby-has-to-be-held-rocked-bounced-or-nursed-to-sleep/ Going Back to Work After Baby:  https://thedgafmom.com/theblog/going-back-to-work-after-baby

#worklifebalance #fromboardroomtomotherhood #thereturnityproject #returnityproject