When the last few years of your life have mostly consisted of cleaning up an endless trail of mess, cleverly diffusing tantrums, strategically planning the best approach to potty training and trying to cater meals to satisfy the fussiest of appetites, the idea of going back to a professional environment can seem a little daunting. However, there are a few things you can do the make the transition a little easier for both you and your family.

Define what’s important to you

The first step to a successful transition back to the workforce is to clearly define what is important to you, starting with your key motivations for returning to work. Do you have a desire to break the glass ceiling and climb to the top of the corporate ladder, or do you just want some extra work to help pay the bills?

It’s also important to think about how you want your work to fit into your lifestyle. We all want to achieve the elusive ideal of the perfect ‘work-life balance’, but this can mean different things for everyone.

For some, work-life balance could mean part-time work or the flexibility to work from home. For others, it could mean working close to home so you’re not spending a significant amount of time each day commuting to and from the office. Or it could be a job that won’t impose a high level of pressure so you don’t take stress home with you.

Ultimately, the first step when planning your return to work is to clearly define what is going to best satisfy your career aspirations, family, lifestyle and financial circumstances, then you can start to better define the type of role you want.

Update your skills

We live in a fast-paced world where even a few years out of the workforce could leave you a little behind when it comes to changes in technology, culture or industry best-practice.

If you want to return to the same industry you previously worked in, it could be a good idea to arrange a coffee catch-up with some of your old work colleagues who can give you the low-down on any changes that have happened since you left, so you can start to build a picture of what the current environment and industry culture is like.

It could be a good move to investigate if it could be worthwhile doing a short course or two to update your skills, so you can hit the ground running from your first day back. There are a range of online and face-to-face training organisations that offer refresher courses in computing, business or administration which could prove to be valuable.

Reskill in a new industry

If your old career path is no longer a good fit for your aspirations or lifestyle, reskilling in a different industry could be a great move—and it may not be as difficult as you think!

The best place to start is by working out what your preferred industry is, then completing a short course or qualification in your chosen field. Whether you’re most interested in a career in hospitality, fitness (check out these fitness courses in Melbourne), interior decoration or healthcare, there are plenty of options to choose from.

Then you’ll need to focus on getting some experience in the field. If it’s a high-demand industry, you may be lucky enough to secure paid work straight away, however if it’s a little more competitive, you may want to investigate if there are any volunteering options that could help you build up some experience to make you more competitive when you start to apply for paid-roles.

Ultimately, whatever you want to achieve is possible—with a little planning, effort and determination you’ll be able to return to the workforce in an industry and role that works for both you and your family.

If you are having a hard time making the decision or transitioning back into the workplace you might want to consider talking to a therapist in person or seeking advice from through online therapy.