The First Week Back
Preview guide
Your day-one exercise
- What changed?
- The client review moved to Thursday.
- What decision do I need?
- Ask Priya on Tuesday which two slides need approval.
- What can wait?
- Sort the rest of my inbox next week.
See the five-day plan
01Find out what changed
Get access to your tools and ask what changed while you were away.
02Agree on priorities
Ask your manager what matters most this week and what can wait.
03Pick up one piece of work
Find the current plan, confirm who owns what, and take one clear next step.
04Sort out a handoff
Flag one open handoff and agree who will move it forward.
05Plan what carries forward
Note what moved forward and leave yourself a short plan for next week.
The First Week Back
A five-day plan for returning to work after parental leave, so you can see what changed and decide what needs your attention first.
What’s inside
- Five-day return planner
- Project and priority triage
- End-of-week handoff
Try this
On day one, write down three things: one change that affects your work, one decision you need this week, and one task that can wait. For the decision, write the name of the person who can make it and when you’ll ask.
The whole series.
The First Week Back
Preview guide
The First Week Back
A five-day plan for returning to work after parental leave, so you can see what changed and decide what needs your attention first.
What’s inside
- Five-day return planner
- Project and priority triage
- End-of-week handoff
Try this
On day one, write down three things: one change that affects your work, one decision you need this week, and one task that can wait. For the decision, write the name of the person who can make it and when you’ll ask.
Before You Go Back
Preview guide
Before You Go Back
Sort the details before day one, from logins and calendars to the person you should contact if a plan changes.
What’s inside
- Two-week countdown
- Day-one logistics checklist
- Pre-return email template
Try this
Hi [name], I’m back on [date]. Could you confirm where I should start that morning and who can help if my access needs resetting? If it suits you, I’ll put 20 minutes on the calendar for us to catch up.
The Manager Check-In
Preview guide
The Manager Check-In
Walk into your first meeting back with a short agenda and leave with priorities, owners, and a follow-up date.
What’s inside
- 20-minute meeting agenda
- Priority and trade-off scripts
- Follow-up recap template
Try this
I can update the launch plan or review the backlog by Thursday. Which one would make the biggest difference this week, and when should we aim to do the other?
Back in the Loop
Preview guide
Back in the Loop
Catch up on the decisions that affect your work with a project map, focused questions, and messages you can adapt.
What’s inside
- Project catch-up map
- Five-question teammate sync
- Context request scripts
Try this
Hi [name], I’m catching up on [project]. Could you point me to the latest plan and flag one decision made while I was out that affects what I do next?
When the Day Goes Sideways
Preview guide
When the Day Goes Sideways
Make a backup plan for work when pickup changes, a caregiver cancels, or a deadline and a family commitment overlap.
What’s inside
- Workday contingency worksheet
- Reschedule and coverage scripts
- Next-day restart note
Try this
I need to step away at 3 today. The draft is in [link] with the open items marked. Can you cover the 3:30 review, or should I move it to tomorrow?
The First Month Back
Preview guide
The First Month Back
Use weekly reviews to see where your time goes, spot repeated friction, and agree on a workable rhythm for the next month.
What’s inside
- Four weekly review sheets
- Workload and friction log
- 30-day manager recap
Try this
Choose one problem that came up at least twice this month. Write down when it happened, who it affected, and one change you can try for two weeks. Pick a date to see whether the change helped.