If your work has been talking about returning to the office for the last few months, you’re probably feeling a mix of excitement and anxiety. After all, if you’re like most moms, you’ve had the luxury (and also the headache and chaos) of working from the comfort of your own home for the better part of the last year. This has made life both easier and more complicated. Yes, it’s been so amazing to have more time with your kids, but they’re probably also an enormous distraction to your productivity level, and you never feel like you have time alone—like ever.
That’s why there are so many mixed emotions involved when it comes to the topic of returning to work post-pandemic. You might be wondering what life will look like once you’re expected to be present at work for the entire day—and may still be figuring out the logistics of school pick-ups and childcare. You might also be feeling more pressure to lean in at work now that you’re going to be physically in front of your boss and colleagues after a year of hiding behind a computer screen on Zoom. And what about all that laundry and those dishes you were able to do mid-day that you know will now pile up and be left for the limited “free” time you have on weeknights and weekends?
You know the transition is not going to be easy, but it doesn’t have to be full-on overwhelming or breakdown-inducing in any way. Remember, you are strong, Mama. You've made incredible sacrifices this past year and handled more than you ever thought you could. If you’re really nervous about how it’ll all pan out, maybe consider talking to your boss about maintaining some of the increased flexibility that the COVID lifestyle gave us moms. Here are Dr. Whitney’s tips for how to approach the situation the right way.
1. Approach with confidence.
Some experts predict a Great Resignation on the horizon, with almost 30% of employees saying they’d rather resign from their positions than return to their in-office jobs post-pandemic. In other words, you're in good company if you'd rather not go back to in-person work. Remember this when you broach the subject with your boss. You never know, your boss may also be in the same boat as you and may offer even more empathy than you’d expect.
2. Create a business case for your preferred working location.
Just as with anything business-oriented, it’s a good idea to point out to your boss all of the reasons why the flexibility that your pandemic working situation offered you was not only good for you, but also for the company’s bottom line. For example, maybe you were able to avoid a two-hour commute total each day, and this allowed you to start working at 8 AM as opposed to 9 AM; and to stop working at 6 PM instead of 5 PM. Good for you and good for the company!
3. Prepare to negotiate.
It's possible your employer may not be able to accommodate all of your work from home preferences—at least not right away. At the same time, the pandemic dramatically changed the way we all do business. You might be surprised by how open and flexible to new schedules and working environments your boss and your company are post-COVID.
4. Continue to "Parent Out Loud."
As Dr. Whitney points out, the Zoom-bombing toddlers that filled our professional meetings this year reminded us that the line between work and home life is often fuzzy for most of us, whether we're in the office or working remotely. The more we all continue to show our humanity, the more it normalizes your working parent experience, and the more your colleagues will be able to do the same.
Remember, you can and will succeed as you transition yet again to a new reality. In the meantime, take good care of yourself and be kind to yourself as you navigate the next few months and find a new normal.
You’ve got this—and we’re here for you along the way!
Written by Jenn Sinrich
Jenn Sinrich is a freelance editor, writer and content strategist located in Boston, Massachusetts. She received her BA in journalism from Northeastern University and has a decade worth of experience working for a myriad of female-focused publications including SELF, Parents, Women's Health, BRIDES, Martha Stewart Weddings and more. When she's not putting pen to paper (or, really, fingers to keyboard), she's enjoying the most precious moments in life with her husband and daughter.
