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Have you ever needed to hear something, but didn’t realise it until afterwards? That’s how I feel about the term “Power Pause”, coined by author and mum-influencer Neha Ruch (founder of Mother Untitled). It’s the idea that mums can take a break from their careers and return to work once they’re ready. It sounds logical on paper, but in reality, it’s much harder than you think. Especially for those of us who love our careers and have slogged our way to the top. The fear that a break might mean never returning to the same role or wage keeps many of us working until we hit breaking point.
I was convinced that newborn life would be a walk in the park compared to my intense job as a beauty editor at a Sunday supplement. Sixteen-hour days, constant travel, endless deadlines, I was always on the go. Maternity leave loomed like a much-needed break on the horizon. But once it started, the blur of monotonous days rolled into one another and the reality of motherhood set in. Relaxing, it was not. I craved the routine of my past career. I missed adult conversations, having independent finances, and, more importantly, the sense of purpose and excitement that came with work.
After nine months, I decided to return to work early, but the relief was quickly replaced by utter overwhelm. With a wage that barely covered childcare, the next two years were a blur of drop-offs and dropped deadlines. I knew I was struggling in both areas. By the time I went off on my second maternity leave, I was exhausted. Financially, it didn’t make sense for me to return to work and the thought of going back, juggling two children, nursery illnesses, and missed milestones, filled me with dread. Still, I didn’t think I had a choice if I wanted to keep my career.
Experts Featured in This Article
Julianne Miles is a Chartered Psychologist and Co-founder of social impact organisation Career Returners and author of Return Journey: How to get back to work and thrive (out Sept. ’25).
Jane Knight is a career coach and founder of Successful Mums, a website aimed at supporting women in business and in their careers.
As luck would have it, a round of voluntary redundancies came up just as I was set to return to work and I took it. The relief was unimaginable. But it was quickly replaced by fear and confusion about what would come next. For the first six months of being a SAHM (stay-at-home mum), I struggled to work out who I was, where my life was going, and how to move forward. I’d trip over my words when asked what I did for a living and often wondered if, and how, I’d ever return to work. My confidence was on the floor, and my mind played tricks on me.
“Our annual Career Returners Indicator research consistently finds that around 90% of women take a hit to their confidence during a career break,” says Julianne Miles, a Chartered Psychologist and co-founder of the social impact organisation Career Returners. “This is particularly linked for mothers to a loss of professional identity and’I’m just a mum’,” she tells PS UK.
I felt caught between worlds. I wasn’t ready to be a full-time SAHM with no plans to go back to work, but I also didn’t fit in with my friends who were fully back in the working mum juggle.
This really resonated with me. My priorities had changed. I couldn’t help feeling that wanting to be at home with my children made me a failed career woman, yet I didn’t want to be “just a mum” forever. I felt caught between worlds. I wasn’t ready to be a full-time SAHM with no plans to go back to work, but I also didn’t fit in with my friends who were fully back in the working mum juggle.
Then, much like the timely redundancy, the pandemic arrived. My spiral was interrupted, and the lack of a full-time job gave me the space to do something meaningful. I set up a charity called WECU2020, which provided goody bags to NHS workers. It changed everything. It proved my brain hadn’t turned to Peppa Pig mush, and that I could be successful without the crutch of a corporation or full-time job to define me. From that moment, I started enjoying time at home with the kids, without guilt. I understood I was still capable of doing great things; it just looked different now. Gone were the 16-hour days and constant sacrifices. In their place came a new balance that worked for me and my family.
Image Source: Lauren Ezekiel
“Returning to work after a long break can be daunting and overwhelming, but it’s also a rare opportunity to think about what you want for the next stage of your working life,” says Miles. It might mean taking a step back to move forward. Jane Knight, founder of Successful Mums recommends, “Ease back in by identifying your transferable skills and updating your knowledge through short courses or volunteering.”
Miles also recommends being gentle with yourself and returning to work at your own pace: “Start by creating a return-to-work plan, breaking it down into achievable small steps. Allocate time in your week, rather than waiting until everything else on your list is done.”
When it comes to wording your ‘Power Pause’ on your CV, both Miles and Knight agree. “Be honest and positive,” says Knight. “Label it as a ‘Career Break as a Parent’ or ‘Family Sabbatical’ and highlight relevant transferable skills and any activities from the career break.”
Miles adds, “Don’t ‘hide’ your career break in a skills-based CV or leave a mysterious blank space-this can be a red flag for recruiters. Instead, make a point of what you’ve done during that time.”
“Returning to work after a long break can be daunting and overwhelming, but it’s also a rare opportunity to think about what you want for the next stage of your working life.”
Knight suggests this example: “2019–2024 – Planned Career Break. During this time, I developed my organisational skills, empathy, and networked with other new parents. I undertook voluntary work (PTA), developed my digital skills, and managed multiple personal projects. I am now actively seeking a return to a flexible and fulfilling role.”
LinkedIn also now lets you add a ‘career break’, so you no longer have to worry about unexplained gaps. “Value what you bring to an employer,” says Miles. “You’re not too old, and it’s never too late. List your achievements – before and during your break. Recognise the skills you’ve built through this time: influencing, time management, resilience, and adaptability. Seek out return-to-work success stories to remind yourself it’s possible.”
This helped me immensely as it made me feel less alone. Just this week, I spoke to a Met Police officer who returned to a senior role after a long break, and a fashion buyer who transformed her time out into a successful Instagram account. We all agreed that the term ‘Power Pause’ gave us pride in our choices.
If you’re thinking of going back to work after a ‘Power Pause’, Miles offers this advice:
Now, I finally feel I have a balance in my work and home life that I never had before my ‘Power Pause’. I used to miss hen dos, dinners, and too many bedtimes to count because of work. I was constantly overwhelmed and unable to switch off. Now, I shut my laptop and rarely check emails after hours. I’m more productive and focused because I’m no longer willing to sacrifice presence for presenteeism.
So, thank you, Neha Ruch, for giving my career break a name I can be proud of, rather than something to hide from.
Lauren Ezekiel (she/her) is a former associate editor at PS UK, where she wrote about all things beauty and wellness. With a degree in journalism she began her career in 2008 at a leading Sunday supplement, where she climbed through the ranks to become beauty editor in 2012. Lauren is obsessed with skincare, hair and makeup, and she’s often found offering advice to innocent bystanders. A mum of two, Lauren is an advocate for the benefits of beauty and self-care for your mental well-being, which inspired her award-winning charity initiative We C U 2020. Her work has been published in Grazia, OK!, Health & Beauty, The Sun, Asda, Dare and Metro.
