Insight
Workplace

Returning from maternity leave

Rose Wilkinson
November 10, 2021
3
min read
happy mother and child

I'd been told returning from maternity leave would be challenging ... but no one could have prepared me for how tough it would be.

It's a rollercoaster of guilt, anxiety, fear and grief at leaving your baby with someone else ... all interspersed with excitement and a forgotten sense of freedom.

There's an intellectual shift in gears which brings real feelings of inadequacy as you push yourself to speed up. Meanwhile, juggling childcare with work check-ins can leave you frazzled and feeling on the back foot.

Transitions like these aren’t easy, but we all have to go through them.

From starting a new job, to returning after parental leave or sick leave, to simply taking on extra responsibility or juggling work with external pressures - there will be all sorts of moments in our careers that challenge our ability to cope.

I've experienced challenges like these before - but thanks to everything I've learnt from Fika's science-based mental fitness courses, this time I'm that bit better prepared.

Mental fitness doesn’t mean the symptoms aren’t there - it just means you’re better equipped to deal with them.

You’re more aware that it might actually be quite normal to feel this way, even if people don’t talk about it. You’re more able to cut yourself some slack, laugh off any mistakes, open up to colleagues or friends without fear of judgement.

You understand the emotions might come in waves for some time - but you’re more assured you have the skills to ride the wave. And each time you do, your confidence grows.

Fika’s mental fitness courses are designed to support staff through tough transitions like the one I’m going through - equipping them to handle the challenges their careers will throw at them, and to thrive, personally and professionally. 

If you’re interested in hearing how we can support your staff via our workplace packages - drop the team a note at hello@fika.community.

It’s good to talk.

Share this post

Rose Wilkinson
Head of Communications

Rose is Head of Communications at Fika Mental Fitness. She is a trained journalist, with 12 years' experience working in PR and communications. Rose is fascinated by psychology, behavioural science and neuroscience, has a degree in English Literature from the University of Bristol, and is a qualified yoga teacher.

Leadership bulletins, brewed monthly and served to your inbox

Awesome, you subscribed!
Error! Please try again.
By subscribing you agree to with our Privacy Policy and provide consent to
receive updates from our company.

Related posts

woman rock climbing

Workplace wellbeing trends: March 2023

In March 2023, Fika surveyed 202 workers in the US (working a minimum of 30 hours per week) to better understand current workplace wellbeing trends. Here's what we found.

Dr Fran Longstaff
March 9, 2023
3
min read
Podcast image for meaningful connections

How to turn 'conversations' into meaningful connections

When it comes to talking - there's talking, and there's really talking, isn't there?

Rose Wilkinson
February 3, 2022
5
min read