My maternity leave is very quickly nearing an end.

That’s right: in a week I’m back at work.

I still cannot BELIEVE how quickly the last 12 months have gone! I’m back to work IN A WEEK! *Oof!

And thinking about going back to work has got me, well, thinking and reflecting on my maternity leave and on the last 12 months.

Maternity leave: that beautifully messy, sleep-deprived adventure that revolves around two things – a tiny human … and, of course, caffeine.

But, about 3 months into my leave … as the haze of sleep deprivation started to lift … I realised it could also be a chance for me—a chance to grow, reflect, and even upskill a bit.

Sure, I didn’t expect spa days or free time on demand (Duh! Mat leave isn’t a HOLIDAY!), but I soon discovered a few creative ways to make my maternity leave meaningful for myself.

So, here’s what I did to turn maternity leave into a little personal and professional boost.

mastering the art of the 2AM masterclass

Those middle-of-the-night feeds and pumping sessions?

I turned them into my own learning sessions using the MasterClass platform!

Once Miss A was back in her cot asleep after a nappy change and breastfeed, to the gentle whirring sound of the breast pump, I’d prop up my phone, pop in my earpods, and dove into the short online MasterClass courses.

Honestly, some nights this is the only way I could motivate myself to stay up to pump while Miss A and J went back to sleep!

With everything from writing and design to business and marketing at my fingertips, I found these late-night “classes” surprisingly effective.

Click here and here for more examples of my learnings from MasterClass.

journaling: the ultimate reflection tool

I’ve journaled my whole life, so it was only natural that with so many big life changes happening I would write things down!

I made a point to jot down my thoughts in a journal, even if it was just a few lines between naps and feeds.

This simple habit helped me process motherhood, reflect on what I want for Miss A and how I want to raise her, consider what I want in my career, and appreciate the little wins of each day.

Plus, journaling doubled as a creative outlet — and I know I’ll love reading back on these reflections in a few years.

networking, mum style

Baby sensory classes turned out to be my unexpected networking goldmine.

Amidst the bubbles, scarves, shakers and soothing tunes, I found myself connecting with a group of mums who are not only tackling new parenthood but also balancing careers, side hustles, and creative ambitions.

We’ve shared tips, brainstormed ideas, and even swapped advice on everything from getting back to work, balancing career and baby, and freelancing to finding time for ourselves.

I never expected my best career chats to happen over shaky rattles and mini maracas, but there’s something about bonding over mutual sleep deprivation that brings people together!

nap trapped? no worries!

With a newborn, spare time is rare, so I turned to bite-sized learning, making the most of Miss A’s nap times!

Similar to those sleep blinks but, well, learning blinks!

Books, short articles, even language apps — I’d dive into whatever I could manage while Miss A dozed off into dreamland, and especially during those moments when I was “nap trapped” … which happened quite a bit and, well, still does sometimes but I’m here for these moments!

ALSO … I’d do this when I wasn’t also trying to catch up on some sleep. You know, the whole “sleep when baby sleeps” advice!

Anyhoo!

These small bursts of learning helped me stay sharp — well, sharp is a loose term when you’re battling “baby brain” ha! — kept my mind engaged, and reminded me that there’s still space for personal growth, even during the busiest — and most tiresome — of moments.

setting a mini-project goal

One of my favorite mini-projects was growing Oh My Gosia (OMG).

Between feedings and nappy changes, I carved out time to brainstorm, develop content, and shape the site’s direction.

It gave me a creative outlet and something exciting to focus on — beyond watching Netflix! — and seeing it grow has felt like a mini-milestone in itself!

But working on OMG was more than a creative outlet — it helped keep me work-ready, too, as I stayed sharp with content creation, writing, and all the behind-the-scenes work that keeps a site running smoothly.

It felt great to be building something while on leave, and when it’s time to return to work in a week, I’m confident knowing I have a few new tricks up my sleeve!

redefining self-care as skill building

I quickly learned that if I wanted to be at my best, I needed to make time for myself too.

Self-care in the form of getting back into running and physical fitness, and enhancing my mental health became a key part of my “upskilling” journey.

From light workouts to making sure I got a few mindful minutes in each day, with J’s help and support, I made sure to carve out some time for myself.

This was the foundation I needed to feel recharged, clear-headed, and ready to dive back into work when the times comes.

So, there you have it!

My maternity leave may be coming to a swift end, but it ended up being more than 12 months focused completely on baby!

It became a blend of baby snuggles, personal growth, and a few small but powerful wins for my future.

I may not have conquered the world in the 12 months that I had off from work, but I’ve come out feeling inspired and ready to take on what’s next.

x G.

Margaret Mielczarek

editor, journalist, digital content creator with a background in nutrition & dietetics.