After a long maternal or paternal leave, even considering going back to work might feel you with anxiety. There is so much to consider, since your entire routine and everyday life need to change drastically. It is a lot and what we are saying is that you don’t have to do it alone.

Juggling your career aspirations and your newly found dedication towards your children are quite an astonishing task. Finding the balance between the two and not loosing yourself in the process is an adventure you will get to experience daily. Many go through this experience and unfortunately most fail. The end result turns out to be either lack of time spent at home, lack of commitment in the office or, the most common one – high levels of stress and health issues. So, how can you avoid all of this and keep your head on your shoulders. The answer is quite simple – hire a coach!

What can a coach actually do for you?

It is important to highlight that a coach doesn’t actually do the job for you. The idea behind the entire coaching process is that you are empowered and enabled to solve the issue yourself. Asking for help is completely okay and coach does exactly that – they help you discover the way yourself.

A coach doesn’t study for you, take risks or tells you exactly what to do, like a trainer or a mentor. A coach can be someone working in a completely different industry. Instead, they use tools and techniques to provide you with support, to expand your growth and to allow you to have enough resources to achieve the goals you set. That means that a coach isn’t going to actually find you your next job. But they will make sure you are good enough to find several.

How should you prepare yourself?

If you decide to embark on this journey and to invest in your mental health and career improvement, you should first lay down a solid foundation. Creating a good base for this process will help you reach your milestones faster. So, what can you actually do?

Start by choosing to be open minded and even try some things that are out of comfort zone. You don’t plan by bringing a notebook and a sharp pen, although it won’t hurt. You plan by broadening your mind and perspective, and allowing yourself to be coached without prejudice and reservations. Enjoy where the process takes you and keep in mind that the end goal is to help yourself. You can also start working on logistics, but don’t let that take up too much of your time. The biggest change and challenge are mental, not physical.

What do you need to know before choosing your coach?

The process of getting back to work doesn’t necessarily mean you should hire a coach that works in your desired industry, or that deals with career changes frequently. Their role isn’t to know a lot about your goal, but to know a lot about you. Do some research on different coaching styles and figure out which one works best for you. It is important that you work with someone that you are compatible with, but don’t share exactly the same ideas and values. The role of a coach is to push you to expand your perspective and find even better ways to reach your goals.

Once you have chosen a particular coach don’t stick with them if you feel like you are not a good match. You won’t be doing anyone a favor. Once you have taken that big leap of faith, make sure that you are completely comfortable with the person you are doing this experience with. This will enable you to take the most out of the situation.

How can you benefit from this experience?

In the beginning, set out some expectations and ground rules. This will allow your coach to tailor-make their plan for your and adjust themselves. Go back to your initial expectations frequently and respect the rules you have established. Allow your coach to have an impact on you and your decision-making process. The end goal is to have both a new chapter in your career as well as a well-balanced home life. Throughout the entire process you should work with your coach on your mental health, time managing techniques and stress-related issues. The entire process will be much easier and you will be more content if you include a coach and allow them to guide you.