New moms need to have time off to bond with their babies and get better after giving birth. It is also a time to get used to the new responsibilities of being a mother. Many women are happy and excited when they are on maternity leave. But it can be a time of worry and stress for some women.
If you’re planning to take a long maternity leave, it’s important to plan ahead and think about how you’re going to manage your time, both at home with your new baby and at work. Here are some tips for successfully managing a long government-paid maternity leave.
Define Your Goals for Your Maternity Leave
When you’re pregnant and preparing for maternity leave, it’s important to take the time to think about your goals. What do you want to accomplish during your leave?
Do you want to spend time bonding with your new baby? Maybe you want to use the time to catch up on sleep or get some much-needed rest and relaxation. Perhaps you want to focus on your health and fitness or take some time to pursue a personal project.
No matter what your goals are, it’s important to be clear about them. Defining your goals will help you make the most of your maternity leave and ensure you can accomplish what’s important to you.
Create a Plan to Balance Work and Family
The moment you find out you’re pregnant, your life changes. You’re no longer responsible for yourself but also for another human being. Along with the joys of pregnancy come a lot of decisions and changes. If you’re pregnant and considering starting maternity leave, here are a few things you should know in order to make the most of your leave and successfully manage work and family.
Set expectations with your employer
Anyone expecting a baby or who has recently had a baby knows that the first few months are a whirlwind. There are so many new things to learn and manage. Add in the fact that you are now responsible for a tiny human being, and it’s no wonder new parents can feel overwhelmed. One thing that can help ease the transition into parenthood is having a plan for your maternity leave.
If you are able to, sit down with your boss or Human Resources department before your baby is born and talk about your expectations for your maternity leave. Discuss how long you would like to take off if you plan to take any time off before the baby is born and what kind of schedule you hope to maintain while you are out.
Stay Connected with Your Co-workers
It’s important to stay in touch with your co-workers while you’re on leave. You can do this by staying in communication through email, social media, or even video conferencing. This will help you stay up-to-date on what’s happening at work and will also allow you to stay connected with your professional network.
Take Care of Yourself
The most important thing you can do while on maternity leave is to take care of yourself. It can be easy to get overwhelmed and feel like you’re not doing anything productive, but it’s important to remember that your number one priority is taking care of your health and your baby’s health.