New Moms: Tips for Managing Your Day
Written by Krista Tannahill
The birth of your first child is filled with joyous and magical moments. The first smile, yawn, hiccup or burp will bring a smile to your face.
In addition to these incredibly wonderful moments comes a very distinct and challenging change of pace. Around the clock diaper changes and feedings can result in sleepless nights and a sense of exhaustion. Incorporating time management tips into your day can greatly reduce your stress and assist you with getting everything you need to get done while continuing to provide all of the love and care that your little one deserves.
It is important to understand that as a new mother, you need to take care of yourself as well as your baby. Eating and sleeping are the two most important factors for keeping yourself energized and alert. This is much harder to do than it sounds! Sleeping at night can be difficult if your baby is up every 2-3 hours. However, if you sleep when your baby sleeps it will provide some relief and help you get through the day. If finding the time to eat is also a challenge you may want to reach for quick and healthy food items, such as fruits, whole wheat bread, yogurt or vegetable sticks. This will allow you to eat healthfully and quickly while you are on the go.
You may also want to consider keeping necessary items close at hand. Think about which room you will spend most of your time in and create some work/baby stations. Keep one area for baby changes with diapers, cream and wipes close at hand, have another area for tummy time, nap time and play time.
Multitasking is also possible when your baby is resting or playing in a bouncy or vibrating chair. You can have your little one in the bouncy chair while you are folding laundry, doing dishes or making the bed. A baby play station can also provide your baby with lots of activity while you are tending to other tasks such as eating lunch, preparing bottles or even tidying up.
I found the first year of motherhood very challenging, incredibly wonderful and somewhat overwhelming. One of the best tips I ever received when I gave birth to my daughter was from my sister. I was struggling through each day and frustrated that I was not able to get all the things done that I had planned. My sister simply asked me “Were you able to have a shower today?” When I responded that I did find the time to hop in the shower she stated “Then it is a good day!”. That thought kept me going – perhaps I was expecting too much of myself? Maybe I needed to sit down, relax and take a moment to breathe. If I can get one thing done each day while taking care of my baby then it is a good day!
The love for your child will propel you forward and enable you to find ways to get through each and every day. And if you manage to find the time to have a shower while taking care of your newborn . . . then it is a good day!