Career break happens irrespective of gender and is mostly inevitable. No one wants to leave their job unless there is some specific reason or an emergency. Nonetheless, women have more chances of having a career break compared to men during their maternity period. They often lose track and focus on their careers involving themselves in maternal duties and find it hard to return to work. It is quite frightening for every new mom to be back to work full-time soon after maternity leave, leaving behind their infant at home or under a nanny’s supervision.
As per the journal published by the NBC News website, “43 percent of women quit their jobs when they have children, according to Brie Weiler Reynolds, a senior career specialist. Of those women, 70 percent eventually return to work — but only 40 percent come back full time.” This study shows that it’s not a rare case to quit the job or take a break after your mat-leave. It happens globally, and women need not feel discouraged or less motivated to be back to work.
Here are 3 ways in which women can retain the focus on their career after a maternity break:
1. Learn and update
It becomes highly daunting to return to work and concentrate on what you do because you feel that you are far behind others in your knowledge and skills. Career break brings the thought in your mind that a lot has changed around, and returning to where you left off would be strenuous. The best and effective way to tackle the situation is to learn and update your skills constantly.
2. Seek help
As per a study conducted by Cleveland Clinic, Ohio, “As many as 50 to 75% of new mothers experience a shift in their emotions called the “baby blues” after delivery. Up to 15% of these women will develop more severe and longer-lasting depression, called postpartum depression, after delivery.” If you are going through this phase of postnatal depression, know that it’s time to seek medical assistance. It is perfectly fine to request an extended leave period stating the reasons clearly.
3. Share your duties
It is quite natural for a mother to get too attached to her baby during the first few months to refuse to share her duties with anyone else. Meanwhile, it’s equally frustrating for her to leave her dream career behind, for which she had worked hard. In such scenarios, a woman who wishes to resume her career and take care of her newborn can surely do so by sharing tasks with her family. Get the support of your family to pay more attention to your career and to have an excellent work-life balance.
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