Prepared for Parenthood

Interview with Rebecca Olson: Work-Life Balance & Pitfalls for New Parents

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Keywords

work-life balance, parenting, career, motherhood, parental leave, identity crisis, self-employment, internal conversations, career adjustments, imposter syndrome, parenting challenges, support systems, working

moms, emotional health, productivity

 

Summary

In the final episode of Season One on Prepared for Parenthood, Rebecca Olson shares her journey from feeling overwhelmed as a bread-winning, career-minded new mother to becoming a life coach focused on helping working parents achieve work-life balance. She discusses the internal struggles many working parents face, the importance of having strategic conversations about career and parental leave, and the emotional transitions that often come with motherhood. Rebecca highlights the frequently-experienced motherhood identity crisis, the impact of sleep deprivation, and the importance of developing new skills to balance work and family life. She also emphasizes the physical and emotional demands of nursing/breastfeeding and pumping at work and the necessity of seeking support during this often-challenging period. The discussion emphasizes the need for clarity in both personal and professional realms to navigate the complexities of parenting and career aspirations.

 

Takeaways

  • Work-life balance is about internal feelings and
    • conversations as well as external conversations and life management.
    • As a working parent, finding meaning and purpose in both your career and role as a parent is ideal for helping to achieve work-life balance.
      • Internal and external conversations about career aspirations and needs during parental leave should happen before the baby arrives.
        • Some women experience a motherhood identity crisis, which often leads to self-questioning and may involve “imposter syndrome” when
          • returning to work.
          • Many people reconsider their career paths after becoming parents, as the emotional and physical transition into parenthood can be profound and
            • unexpected.
            • Returning to work can take several months to adjust to and can be impacted by sleep deprivation and overwhelm. Women may even face biases in the workplace after having children.
              • Breastfeeding and pumping at work can be emotionally challenging for working moms due to hormone fluctuation, the investment of work
                • time, and being away from your baby.
                • New parents must develop a new skillset and strong support systems to manage dual priorities.


                  • Guest Contact

                  Website: https://www.rebeccaolsoncoaching.com/

                  Podcast: https://www.rebeccaolsoncoaching.com/podcast

                  Freebie: https://www.ambitiousandbalanced.com/self-care-roadmap-pdf


                  Host Contact

                  Dr. Stephanie Dueger: ⁠[email protected]⁠

                  Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://preparedforparenthood.com⁠⁠

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                  Prepared for ParenthoodBy Dr. Stephanie Dueger