“I’m having a baby!” I announced at work. After the initial wave of congratulations subsided, conversation turned to the inevitable question: “Are you planning to return to work?” asked my colleagues, some with amusement, and others in more anxious tones. “I don’t really know at this point,” was my truthful answer. I did know, however, that it was going to be an important and potentially life-changing decision.

As I neared the end of my maternity leave and the manic feeding-changing-sleeping frenzy with my baby settled into a regular routine, I decided that I wanted my job back. I was looking forward to meeting colleagues and customers, and being part of the action again! But I suspected that it wasn’t going to be a smooth transition…and I was right! Returning to work after a hiatus ─ be it parental leave, a vacation, or even a period of illness ─ is fraught with challenges. Sometimes it can feel exactly like starting a new position altogether. I nervously pondered: What if I don’t fit in with the new team? Am I dressed right? Do I remember how to do my job?

Upon returning to work I discovered that the world moves on and you need to catch up! Colleagues who remained at work know about the trends, are aware of new industry concepts, and have developed new skills. Their personal worth has increased by virtue of these small incremental additions to their professional self. They sustained business continuity and know where the business stands today. You, on the other hand, are just back from a leave and have gaps to fill in. Old projects may have ended and new ones started, old clients may have left and new customers welcomed, even fresh faces may be peeping out from behind desks, while the familiar mugs are nowhere to be seen. Returning to work after a hiatus does not have to be a stressful experience. With these simple mental bookmarks, you can enjoy a pleasant comeback and soon get into the thick of things!

Keep in touch.

While away, stay in touch with the industry buzz using social and traditional media. Keep up by reading magazines, following leading experts on blog feeds, and participating in online forums. If you can manage it, connect with an occasional phone call, email, or social gathering with colleagues to learn about interesting developments. An easy way to stay abreast of the company’s gossip is to ask your manager to set up an email distribution list containing the addresses of department employees, and then request colleagues to use this list rather than personal addresses to broadcast messages. This is a passive way to keep your finger on the pulse and can be done at your convenience. If you feel the need, attend workshops and conferences to bring yourself up to date with current affairs.

On your first day back, arrange a formal meeting with your supervisor and come to terms with the most vital issues of the day by making a simple bullet point list. Taking action on work items in decreasing order of priority will help get the urgent matters out of the way and, thus, reduce stress. Using your best approximation skills, based on past experience of similar work and how long it took to complete, allocate timelines for tasks. This will help schedule your time so that you are neither overworked nor left idle. Eventually, discuss and craft a personal development plan to know your career road-map ahead. If you know where you’re going, you’ll find it easier to get there.

Be open to change.

You may find that things are not done the way they used to be. Your company may have discovered a more efficient way and ask you to invest the time and effort to learn it. It is understandable to feel resistant or uncertain over change. What if I can’t do it? Will they not want me anymore? Remember, change is usually for the better and drives development. Unless they are trialling it, your company will have adopted the method after due diligence. At the end of the day, whatever helps the business thrive is what is requir

ed. Give the new technique a chance. Even if you don’t get it right the first time, rest assured that there will be a second opportunity.

Jump into the deep end.

There’s nothing like getting your hands dirty to get into the swing of things. The more you delay, the more your mental block will grow, and so will the p

ile of demands on your plate. For example, answering phone calls is a great way to familiarize yourself with the current situation. To a customer asking for a status update, respond with a polite, “Let me check and get back to you,” and then follow-up. This will ensure that you are quickly brought into the loop of what’s happening.

Take baby steps.

Break down complex tasks into smaller chunks of manageable work. A task that looks insurmountable at first will become achievable when done in logical stages. Begin small.

Be disciplined.

Once you have your list, stick to the deadlines and avoid distractions. No “just a quick refresh of my Inbox” or “let me take that call.” Focus.

Ask for help.

Reaching out to people to get support is an effective method to get things done. Direct questioning has long been regarded as the quickest way of getting information. Just bear in mind that others have their own jobs and your interruptions could be unwelcome at times, so keep the queries to a minimum unless absolutely essential.

Keep everyone informed.

Share what you are doing so that any potential for error is detected and flagged sooner rather than later, when it may cause irreversible harm. Co-workers may have suggestions and tools to save you time and trouble.

Reward yourself in small ways.

As each item on your list gets done, strike it off. This helps you feel a sense of accomplishment and acts as an incentive to get more done. Work for a couple of hours with concentration and then take a break. Get fresh air or make yourself a cup of tea. Remind yourself of your accomplishments in the past. You were a professional before and your skills have not deteriorated after a gap, they just need some polishing up.

Even your coffee break can be put to good use by having an informal chat with colleagues. The human brain retains more data when it is delivered in a relaxed dynamic atmosphere than in a tense, volatile environment. Be productive, creative, and make every minute count!