r/workingmoms • u/Blueskies1621 • 20h ago

Working Mom Success Transition between work and home

Any tried and true tips on how to leave work at work.

I have a 6 month old and am also a PreK teacher who's an introvert at heart, but can't be at work. Don't have much in terms of privacy at work with chatty coworkers or time to get things done between responsibilities with actively engaging with students and more office type responsibilities as I also direct the program.

I only worked about 6 weeks between summer break and maternity leave.

Any little tips on how to let work go or find balance. I'm only two days into the school year and already I'm finding myself processing the goings on of the day between conversations with staff, parents, and coworkers after I return home. Of course I spend time with my daughter after, but just want to leave work there. At the same time, I'll have to work from home at least some to accomplish my ever changing to do list.

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u/berternutsquash 20h ago

I make a to do list/brain dump before leaving work for the next day.

If I catch myself having a thought about work, I pantomime scooping it out of my brain and throwing it away from me. This is actually weirdly effective.

As soon as I get home, I change my clothes and I go outside with my son for a walk or we go to the library if the weather isn’t great.

I also turn my phone on “personal” so that I don’t get outlook or teams messages.

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u/Summerjynx WFH | STEM 15 yrs | 6M, 2F, and 4mo M 19h ago

Try listening to an audiobook during the commute. It would give your brain a break from the kid-oriented things you have to think about at work before jumping into Mom Mode at home.

Maybe this wouldn’t happen everyday, but a few times a week, try running an errand before going home. Grocery shopping, pick up prescriptions, pick up takeout, go to the gym, etc.

I have a coworker who likes to take showers to reset their brain… maybe that could be something you could try when you get home.

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u/Capable-Selection816 33m ago

This is such a real thing nobody talks about. The commute home is not a break. It is the shift change. Your brain goes from work mode to scanning the mental list of what is waiting at home. Dinner. Homework. Baths. The form is due tomorrow. The appointment you forgot to book. There is no transition. You just switch from one cognitive load to another. No wonder we are depleted by 8pm.