Liz Curry

Returning to work in a part-time capacity after parental leave was a non-negotiable for me, especially while my children are small. I’m extremely fortunate that I work for a company where this is an option and there are many mums and dads at Tonkin + Taylor who work part-time and have flexible arrangements. My husband also works part-time, so we’re able to both spend more time with our boys, whilst both still maintaining careers.

It is definitely not easy though, and some weeks I feel like I’m cramming five days of work into three. It’s still a work in progress for me but I’m learning to create healthier boundaries and say “no” more (which doesn’t come easy to me as a perpetual people pleaser and high achiever)! Sometimes work does bleed into home life, particularly on my days off with my boys during the week. But being flexible works both ways and I want to support my team and continue to deliver to clients, where I can.

I am ruthless with my outlook calendar and block out time when I’m not available. I also block out some focus time for myself each day to get urgent tasks done, usually in the morning when I’m feeling sharper. Working part-time makes me super efficient, way more than when I worked full time! I’ve also recently been blocking out time for self-care, where I’m not in ‘work mode’ or ‘mum mode’. This has made a big difference to my overall well-being. My other top tip: get a cleaner!

I’m really motivated to make my part-time leadership role a success so I can be a positive role model for other working mums. I want to show it’s still possible to have a “big” job whilst also being a mum, which actually is the biggest (and most important) job of all.