10 Ways Working Moms Can Simplify Life After Having a Baby

Returning to work after maternity leave can feel like stepping into, well, a new life. You're still adjusting to motherhood while trying to get your professional rhythm back. It's exciting, sure, but also overwhelming, and that's something almost every working mom feels.

The early months when you need to get back to work are really the hardest. But spend time in online parenting communities like ParenTeam's Moms and Dads Facebook group, and you'll see that Pinay moms have become champions at managing feedings, sleepless nights, and stress at work.

Below are 10 strategies that these moms say truly helped them manage the chaos of juggling career and family life.

1. Rethink What "Balance" Really Means

As one doctor-mom puts it, "I think work–family balance is very important. However, it is a theory. In practice, it is impossible to balance work and family."

Instead of striving for that "perfect balance," match your time and energy to what matters most this week. Ask yourself:

• What's my priority today?
• What can wait until tomorrow?

Balance rarely means giving your career and family equal time. Recognizing that at times one side needs more of you will make you feel freer (and less guilty). Find more tips in Work-Life Balance Hacks Every Mom Needs in Her Life Now.

2. Accept That You Need Help

In your first months back at work, the instinct to "do it all" will hit you hard. But you can't sustain handling every errand and task yourself. Get help for some of those tasks.  

• If you can, hire a yaya or part-time helper to manage chores or childcare.
• If household help isn't an option, lean on other people, like your parents, in-laws, or other relatives.
• Consider a tutor if your older child's schoolwork is eating up your evenings.

Yes, hiring household help is expensive, but think of it as an investment in your sanity and energy.

3. Talk to Your Partner About What You Need

Apart from physical help, emotional support and shared decision-making make a difference in a working mom's life.

Between adjusting to a new schedule and figuring out baby care logistics, even strong relationships can strain under the weight.

Discuss with your partner how you can share responsibilities fairly. When dads take on more—whether that means extended paternity leave or night shifts—raising a child gets easier for both of you.

A 2024 review on working mom challenges in BMC Women's Health notes that when both parents are given time and space to care for their child, it eases mothers' load and helps with working mom burnout and guilt.

4. Simplify Your Routines

The mental load of running a household can drain you when you're a working mom. So, think of your home like a small company: you're the manager, and your goal is efficiency.

Small changes like the following can free up hours of your week.

• Meal prep twice a week and freeze leftovers.
• Outsource what drains you (laundry, ironing, deep cleaning).
• Set up daily routines to make mornings less chaotic.
• Prep the night before so mornings start calmer.

Encourage your kids to help out too, even in small ways like fixing their toys or arranging their clothes. You're lightening your load AND also teaching them responsibility.

5. Adjust Your Work Setup When Possible

Many working moms say switching to a work-from-home setup, even part-time, gave them more flexibility and time with their baby. It can be a big adjustment, so explore possible options:

• Ask your employer about flexible hours or remote work days.
• If that's not an option, use your breaks wisely: pump milk, check in with your helper, or rest.
• Consider switching to output-based work if your field allows it.

If you're already working remotely, make sure you still set boundaries. You don't need to be "on" all the time to prove your commitment.

6. Go on Social Media Less Often

When you're returning to work, social media can become a minefield of posts from mommy influencers who manage work, kids, and a spotless house with ease. And whether you like it or not, you can't help but compare it.

What can you do?

• Curate your feed to include influencers who make you feel seen.
• Mute accounts that trigger negative feelings
• Take short app breaks (30 minutes of scrolling, then put your phone away).

Studies in journals such as Evolutionary Behavioral Sciences, New Media & Society, and Social Media + Society show that constant social comparison increases anxiety and lowers self-confidence. The takeaway: Less scrolling means less pressure to measure up.

7. Build Your Own Support Network

The BMC Women's Health study found that grandparents and supportive partners were the strongest pillars for Asian working moms. But support can also come from other moms who get the exhaustion of pumping between meetings or rushing home for bedtime.

Find a small group chat with fellow working moms, or connect with parents from your child's playgroup. Even quick check-ins ("I had a rough day, too") can make you feel less alone.

8. Protect Your Time From Burnout

Working moms may find themselves being judged for working "too much" or for "not working enough."

The BMC study also found that mothers often overextend themselves because workplace flexibility is limited or colleagues view it negatively. Here's how to make time for yourself as a working mom (aka protect your peace of mind).

• Block out short breaks on your work calendar and treat them as real appointments.
• Learn to say "I can do it tomorrow" without guilt.
• Use your vacation days—they exist for a reason!

Online communities repeats this advice for working moms often: "You can't care for anyone kung pagod na pagod ka na."

9. Bring Back Hobbies

It's easy to lose your sense of self after returning to work and adjusting to new routines. Hobbies remind you that you exist beyond your job title and your mom role. You don't need hours for hobbies like the ones below:

• Read two pages of a book each night.
• Tend to plants before breakfast.
• Try a short dance video on YouTube.

You might be surprised at how a 10-minute break can help you feel like yourself again.

10. Use Compassion on You

You will miss a meeting. You will forget a school event. And sometimes, dinner for you and your partner will just be instant noodles. And that's fine.

Your worth shouldn't be tied to how perfectly you do your work or parenting. The kinder you are to yourself, the easier it is to recover from the daily chaos and keep going the next day.

You Can Do This!

When you read posts from other working moms or see their stories online, you can't help but be amazed at where they find the energy to keep everything running.

But once you've held your baby and lived through those first few nerve-wracking weeks, you get it. That tiny person in your arms right now becomes your reason and strength to keep showing up.

To all working moms, take each day as it comes. You're doing better than you think.