By Sarah Stewart

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I welcomed my firstborn into the world in January. I then quickly realized the challenges and joys of being a new mom and learned to appreciate sleep like never before. After spending three months recovering and bonding with my son (shout out to Slide Nine’s family leave policy), I returned to work in April and have loved catching up with my team and clients. Motherhood is a full-time job in itself, and for many women like me, it’s just one facet of our lives. If you’re a new or soon-to-be parent, here are some tips for finding balance.

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Accept Help From Your Village: Raising a child takes a village. Sometimes, you need that village to help do the basics—get a meal on the table, do the laundry or figure out why your baby hates to be swaddled. Returning to work helped me understand how important my professional village is, too. The team has been so supportive since my return, from bringing me back up to speed to stepping in when I need to pick up my son from daycare. This experience has taught me the importance of accepting help and returning the favor.

Manage Time Effectively: When I became a mom, a 24-hour day felt much shorter. I looked at ways to streamline household chores or make one night's worth of cooking last a week. Efficiency has been just as essential as I’ve returned to work. Even a simple task like blocking my calendar for focused time is crucial, and I’ve reevaluated how I operate and utilize our project management tools to be more effective.

Trust Your Intuition: As a first-time mom, I’ve been learning a lot on the fly. When I finally became confident enough to trust my instincts, it was like a weight lifted off my shoulders (and I think my son chilled out a little bit, too.) Likewise, if you bring your best intentions into your work, your intuition will steer you in the right direction. Sometimes, that gut feeling means asking for help, and that’s okay, too!

Take Time for Self-Care: We all want to be productive problem solvers, but focusing too much on checking items off the list can lead to exhaustion and burnout. This is why self-care is key. In my personal life, this might look like reading a book, taking my dog for a walk or watching a movie. Professionally, it might be continuing my education, working on projects that flex a different part of my brain, taking a break in the middle of the day to get outside or meditating to center my mind. Do whatever you need to do to take care of yourself.

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Ultimately, I hope my son grows up to view his mom as a creative thinker who lifts others up and celebrates everyday moments. I am proud to work for a company that encourages us to bring our full selves to work, whether we be moms and dads, pet-parents, video gamers, Swifties or whatever other title makes us who we are. We each bring unique experiences to our jobs that drive our creative work and that’s something that motivates me every day!