BACK TO WORK
If possible, return on a Friday, and treat it as a dress rehearsal, with hair, makeup, and outfit done in the time limit you'll face on your first "official" morning. (If you can't, at least rehearse your routine once.)
At work, ease rushed feelings with a dab of a calming fragrance on temples; try Origins Sensory Therapy Peace of Mind On-The-Spot Relief.
Finally, be kind to yourself. "New mothers put pressure on themselves at work to pretend everything's the same," says Julie Noorigian, a faculty member at California State University, Long Beach, who works with toddlers and their parents. "Your energy level and work appearance won't be the same. Give yourself a year to feel 'normal' again."
