Realistically as a new mother, it’s tough to find time to relax or care for yourself. Mothers carry a lot of the mental and physical load of the family. From keeping track of the families schedule (appointments, nap times, feeding times), to loving, holding, rocking, feeding and changing a newborn, there’s very little time to de-stress. However, you don’t want this mental or physical stress to become chronic. It’s important to take a pause in that cycle whenever you can. So, with that in mind, here are four ways a mom can take a break and reset:
Run a bath before bed. Obviously not every night, but you’d be surprised at how relaxing it can be, with the added benefit of improved sleep that night. We do it for our babies, so why not use the same technique? Choose one night every couple of weeks to get some scented epsom salt, your favorite music or podcast and enjoy soaking. If you’re really being ambitious, add some candles. Leave your screen out of the equation, close your eyes and just sit back and breathe deeply. You need to take a moment and pause, and what better place to do that than in a bath of hot water?
Get out and move. Ideally you’re alone, but if you can’t swing that consider putting in some headphones and zoning out as you push the babe in a stroller. Exercise is a great mood booster, and being outdoors is too (two for one!). If outside isn’t realistic and not your thing, try the asanas of yoga or escape to a studio workout. You deserve time for yourself to feel re-energized.
Check in with friends. Get your tribe together and get out for lunch or dinner, or Facetime chat. Text check-ins are great, but every now and then you deserve a bit more. Having good people around you will remind you of the support system you have. Catching up and chatting about what’s important to you is a needed break from the norm. Your personal happiness is important and your friends are great for that.
Sleep. Before you roll your eyes (I know you don’t have full control), but we can’t forget how important a good night of sleep is for our health. This reminder is simply to say that if lack of sleep is severely impacting your mood and ability to function, then you might need to ask for help. Let a friend come by so you can take a nap. Have your partner take a full night and you sleep in another room or away from the house if possible. This might seem drastic, but if it's doable, it might be just what you need to recharge your battery some.