So you’ve been rocking the stay-at-home mom gig and now want (or need) to get back out into the corporate world. When you begin to think about all of the ways your routine will change, you may begin to feel overwhelmed. (Hello new clothes! Day care or nanny? When will I have time to take the kids to the vet and the dog to soccer practice?)

We asked a few moms who’ve already made this transition for some of their tips and tricks on how to make the new routine as easy as possible for you and your family.

Take it easy on yourself
“Ease into your new role,” says Barb Burk of Ballwin, Mo. “Don’t overcompensate by signing up for every school function, sports activity, etc. Wait until you are more familiar with your office culture to know when it is acceptable to leave early, or during the day.”

If you find you need some help, Barb suggests connecting with other moms/families within your neighborhood or within your social circle. “Trade off car pooling, etc. and don’t dump on the stay-at-home moms. Being at home with a toddler can be more stressful at times than a 3:00 p.m. deadline.”

Prepare for your days the night before
Mornings are bound to be hectic. But you can take some of the stress out of those early hours by getting organized beforehand. “Set out clothes the night before, plan your meals the night before, cook extra on Sundays and freeze some for a meal or two, get YOUR clothes out the night before (accessories, shoes, everything) and have it hang on a hanger,” says Dana Claxton, of Godfrey, Ill.

Empower your kids
Many women find that one of the biggest advantages (other than financial) to mom going back to work is that kids become more independent. “Empower your kids to take on chores in the house that you normally did yourself,” notes Michelle of Oakland, Mo. My kids’ t-shirt and underwear drawers aren’t as neat as they used to be, but hey, the laundry is put away.”

Hire help
Keeping the house neat and tidy (or remotely respectable) usually falls on mom’s shoulders. Consider getting some help in this arena. “I hired a cleaning lady every other week and that saves me a ton of time on the weekends to hang out with the kids,” Dana shares. Barb mentioned this too. “If you can afford it. Even once a month helps. A friend of mine calls it an investment in her marriage.”

If you’ve got little ones
Dana’s got an extra insight for you. She has two sons who both go to daycare and advises, “Set up playdates with anyone they are in daycare/preschool/etc. with to help them look forward to going to school. Always do a quick, cheerful goodbye at daycare-don’t linger. I used to linger with Nick and it broke my heart every morning and then he would be fine when I left….I would be crying, but he was fine.”

Make time to share schedules with the spouse
Your honey might have a work event on Wednesday night. You might need to drive in early on Thursday. And if you’ve got kids in after school activities? You may begin to feel as if you’re running through a 24-hour obstacle course. Barb’s got four kids, (one college grad, one college student, one high school student and one in junior high.) and she offers this advice: “Be organized with your calendar. I’m not perfect, but I’m way better than I used to be. My husband and I share our work schedules each week so we know what’s going on with our schedules and the kids- who can pick up, be home early, etc.

Plan some fun time aka “The Pay-off”
Those work weeks can feel like months to little ones. (Course they often do for adults too!) “We do ‘donut day’ on Wednesday or Thursday to help get them over the hump of the work week,” says Dana.  And when the kids complain about you working? “Indulge in an activity/item for the family when you start earning more income again and remind the family that you working allowed them to get the item/do the activity,” she adds.

Take some time out to relax
You need time to catch your breath. Because an overworked, overstressed mama isn’t a healthy mama. “Arrange a girls’ night at least once a month. Don’t forget dates with a significant other,” Michelle notes.