Preparing to re-enter the workforce after leaving to raise a family can feel like a daunting prospect. Making the decision to return to work is a big deal, and you may feel undecided whether it is the right choice.
Leaving your kids at home and heading back to work outside the home is a significant change, and it is entirely understandable if you are struggling to commit to a decision on how to prepare for a return to work.
Read our popular Return to Work After Maternity Leave – UK Returner Plan & Checklist (2026)
How do I go back to work after a long break
While heading back into the workplace may feel like a massive leap outside of your comfort zone, many women find they actually enjoy returning to work. Working outside the home can be stressful, but it can also bring independence and the opportunity to be yourself. If you are able to, it is helpful to prepare for a return to work thoroughly so that you can ensure you make the right decisions for yourself and your family. Thorough preparation on how to prepare for a return to work, it can make getting back to work a lot less scary, and you should feel more confident about your choice. If you are wondering how to prepare for a return to work after taking time off with your family, you should find that these tips help to make the entire process much easier and something to look forward to rather than dread:
Choose Your Direction
Returning to work after maternity leave or a career break presents an exciting opportunity. You may have spent many years working in your previous role before having kids, but taking a career break is the perfect time to re-assess your priorities and focus on what matters. With the benefit of a fresh perspective on your career, you will be able to decide on your chosen direction with a lot more clarity. So, whether you decide that you would like to return to your previous role, or you think a complete change of career is the way forward, re-thinking your priorities and deciding how to proceed is a great idea.
Sometimes, returning to a previous role is essential when you return from maternity leave. If you need to return to your previous role for a set period as part of your contract, try not to be disheartened. Take some time to read your contract and look for clauses relating to your return to work and any rules that stipulate that your maternity pay needs to be repaid if you do not go back to your previous job. Even if you are required to return to work your old job, and you no longer want to, you can use this time to finalise your plans for your career move while working your notice. Knowing you have a plan in place and an idea of what you want to do instead can make a brief return to a job you no longer like a lot more bearable.
A lot of readers contact us saying they are looking for work that fits round their children to allow them more time at home with their baby. Again if this is what is important to you then this is a great option it can often feel like a unicorn role but their are options out there. Exploring your skills to help you for example if you have strong typing skills looking at things remote audio typing vacancies to provide the convenience of working from home while offering a steady income. Alternatively consultancy work can be a great option as we support many readers branch out on their own to create what they need from their careers.
Plan Your Childcare For Your Return To Work
Childcare is the bane of most parents’ lives. Figuring out who will take care of the kids while you are at work and the logistical challenges that this represents can be a nightmare. Working out your entitlement in terms of childcare vouchers is a great place to start and should help to ease the burden of some of the costs. If a nursery is unaffordable, finding a childminder to take care of your little one can be a less-expensive alternative, and you should still be able to use your childcare voucher entitlement towards the cost.
If you will require paid-for childcare for your return to work, it is best to start looking for this early. Carrying out plenty of research on the best childminders and nurseries in your area is a great place to begin. Asking for personal recommendations and checking OFSTED reports are also helpful when you are carrying out your research. Checking availability for the days and times that you plan to work is also crucial and will help you narrow down your choices even further. Once you have your childcare sorted out, you will likely feel a lot more relaxed about going back to work.
Brush Up Your Tech Skills
If you have been out of the office for a long time to raise your kids, you may feel a little apprehensive that your tech skills are no longer up to scratch. Technology changes at such a fast pace that it can be hard to keep up and stay up-to-date. If you are concerned that your tech knowledge may have slipped while you have been at home, taking some time to brush up on these is a great way to boost your confidence. Being in a baby bubble and running around after toddlers can leave very little time to work on your tech skills, and it is probably the last thing on your mind. Whether you want to learn how to save reddit videos or to discover the latest trends in digital marketing, reading about the latest tech and building your skillset is an excellent way to prepare for a confident return to work.
Taking a course is one option to consider when trying to update your knowledge. Still, if you do not need a formal qualification, it is not necessary to spend a fortune enrolling on a course when you can find so much information readily available online.
How do I mentally prepare to go back to work?
Preparing for your return to work can feel overwhelming, and you probably have a whole range of emotions and thoughts about the prospect of being back in the office. But, it is essential to take the pressure off of yourself and to allow yourself to feel whatever you feel. Putting unnecessary pressure on yourself will always increase your stress levels and make your return to work harder. Taking a deep breath and reminding yourself of why you work and how this contributes to your family life is essential and should help you to feel a little better about the situation. By focusing on taking things day by day, you should find that you soon get into your new routine.
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