Whether longingly sniffing your baby’s lingering scent on your skin or guiltily glad to be back (hello adult convo!), returning to work after maternity leave can be tough. Here, help from Keyla Kirton, coordinator of recruitment and research at Farmingdale State College in New York.

Schedule a check-in.
If you’ve been in blissful baby mode during your time off, take time to connect with co-workers about the latest office doings. Schedule a chat with your boss so both of you are in sync about your workload.

Rehearse your return.
A few days before you go back, pretend it’s the day and practice getting everything ready—from preparing bottles to getting your babe out the door on time. This will help you adjust to the new rhythm of working motherhood.

Start midweek.
Monday typically kicks off the workweek, but it may not be the ideal first day back. Schedule your first day for a Wednesday instead. Even better, plan for a few part-time days at first so you can slowly ease back into work life.