January 1, 1970 · Season S01 : Solo · Episode 1
Finding Balance After Returning to Work Post-Maternity Leave
5 Min, 36 Sec · By Tanni
The first episode of Tanni Talks Tech focuses on work-life balance, a challenge I faced after returning from maternity leave. Balancing a high-stress project and adjusting to daycare for my baby led to exhaustion and guilt, especially after contracting Covid. After reaching a breaking point, I reassessed my priorities and learned the importance of maintaining a healthy work-life balance.
Episode Description
The inaugural episode of Tanni Talks Tech is dedicated to one of my favorite subjects: work-life balance. Since returning to work after maternity leave, this has been the most challenging aspect for me. My baby was under a year old and adjusting to daycare while I was managing a high-stress project nearing its completion. My husband took a few months of parental leave when I went back, and we were both trying to adapt to our new normal. I often found myself working long hours, reacclimating to the project after a year away, while also addressing several challenging situations at work. Meanwhile, our little one was learning to cope with not being my top priority anymore and brought home every virus imaginable. I returned to work in August, and by October, we all contracted Covid, which hit us particularly hard, especially my husband. I felt exhausted, unwell, and overwhelmed with guilt for missing work during such a critical time. Instead of focusing on recovery, I attempted to work through my illness, which only prolonged it and added stress for everyone. The cold weather, lack of outdoor activity, and isolation took a toll on us all.
The following months were a blur filled with juggling work, guilt, and recurring illness. Eventually, I reached a breaking point. Just as we were experiencing another wave of sickness, I was reassigned to a project with a more manageable timeline.
This shift allowed me to pause and reflect on my past mistakes and the lessons learned. I discovered that maintaining a healthy work-life balance is essential for sustaining a demanding career like project management in the long run.
In this episode, I want to leave you with a few key takeaways.
As we wrap up this episode, remember that achieving a work-life balance is a personal journey, unique to each individual’s circumstances. It’s a constant learning process, but through perseverance and self-awareness, it is entirely possible. Thank you for tuning in to Tanni Talks Tech. I hope you found this episode insightful and encouraging. Until next time, take care of yourselves and keep striving for harmony in all areas of your life.