I have always been someone who needs to stay busy. This impulse has served me well in my professional life since it drives me to seek new opportunities to expand my skill set and network. It has motivated me to write articles, present at conferences, seek grant funding, and participate on committees. And I know for a fact that these activities have directly and favorably influenced my career path.

When I discovered I was going to be a mother, I knew that my understanding of productivity would need to evolve. I knew that my energy levels, time commitments, and priorities would all shift. I welcomed these changes, seeing them as an opportunity to be more deliberate with my time and energy.

What I didn’t quite expect was that my toolbox of productivity strategies, which I had relied on in the past, would be largely useless during these first years of my son’s life. As an additional fun challenge, I transitioned from an individual contributor role to a manager role when my son was four months old. My entire framework for my priorities and values changed drastically, leaving me playing catch-up.

As I navigated the new roles of mother and manager I discovered a surprising amount of overlap. Both required me to redefine productivity. It was no longer about my individual achievements, but about what others could accomplish with my guidance and support.

If my son was fed, clean, and happy, then that was a productive day at home. If my team was supported, engaged, and meeting benchmarks, then that was a productive day at work.

It sounds simple, but this was a complete paradigm shift that took a few months to really sink in. I often caught myself moving in directions that, in my previous life, would have been totally acceptable and even expected of me. But in my new life, these were now distractions from my true goals, which were centered around the success and well-being of the people around me. There were moments of self-doubt, guilt, and fear of not being able to do justice to both roles. But with time, I learned to navigate these emotions and focus on the positive aspects of my new life.

My husband, family, and colleagues have been instrumental in helping me find my balance. Their understanding, encouragement, and practical support have made this transition smoother and more enjoyable. I have been a mother for 14 months and a manager for 11 months. This new way of working and living finally feels like the norm, and I love every minute of it. Okay, I love most of it – I could do with fewer meetings and poopy diapers. And now I know that when my life inevitably undergoes another significant change, I’ll be able to find a new normal that I love just as much as this one.