When you bring a newborn home, it’s easy to get caught up in the craziness. After days with little sleep, dealing with uncontrollable crying, and mountains of dirty diapers, you may find yourself completely giving up on caring for yourself as you try to keep up with your baby’s needs. However, if you are not practicing self-care, you are not truly doing everything you can for your baby’s good. When parents are healthy and happy, they are better able to take care of their kids. This allows you to be more attentive, patient, and mindful when spending time with your baby. During the first months of being a parent, here are a few acts of self-care that you can incorporate into your life.
Appreciate the Little Things… Like Hygiene
It’s not uncommon for new parents to wake up one morning and realize it has been days since they last washed their hair, so don’t beat yourself up if you find this happens to you. However, practicing your daily hygiene routine is a little time you get to spend on yourself. While you probably took things like properly brushing and flossing for granted, now you have the opportunity to really appreciate these moments as the acts of self-care that they are. Take your time when you care for yourself and don’t be afraid to splurge on products that you really enjoy using. Grab that nice-smelling shampoo, a luxurious face lotion, or that really good toothpaste—it’s a small thing for you in a world where everything else is about the baby.
Save Time With Grocery Delivery
If you are breastfeeding, you know it is important to eat nutritious foods in order to stay healthy while nursing. Even if you are not breastfeeding, you want to eat well as a new parent so you can be properly fueled and functioning at your best for your child. However, planning a grocery list, going to the store, shopping, and preparing meals can be super overwhelming and way too time-consuming when you are caring for a newborn.
Make the whole process simpler by spending a few extra dollars on getting your groceries delivered. Many supermarkets now offer their own delivery programs as a way to compete with online mega-retailers like Amazon. Or you can use grocery delivery apps to connect with personal shoppers who will go to the store of your choosing. While this may eat into your household’s grocery budget, in the end, it is worth it both for the health of home-cooked foods as well as the convenience it provides.
Move Around
We are not saying new moms should start training for a triathlon days after giving birth, but getting in some sort of physical activity can be a huge help for new parents in general. First of all, exercise releases endorphins, dopamine, and other helpful neurochemicals that help beat stress, reduce pain, and can even help with feelings of postpartum depression. A little physical activity can also help you achieve deeper, more restful sleep—when you can get any at all. Instead of pushing yourself to do something crazy or difficult, start with light yoga, neighborhood walks, and simple isometric exercises you can do around the house. Fit fitness into your routine as you can with the goal of feeling better overall rather than losing weight or building muscle.
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Parents often get swept up in the chaos of living with a newborn, but it is important to practice self-care in order to be your best for your baby. Upgrade your daily hygiene ritual with your favorite products and savor the small amount of time dedicated solely to yourself. Eat well even with your crazy schedule by paying a little extra for grocery delivery. Finally, try and fit in exercise as much as you can to help beat the stresses of parenthood while promoting a positive attitude.
