Babies bring a lot of joy into your life, but they can also bring a lot of stress. Between constant feedings and diaper changes, you’re likely to be sleep-deprived and overwhelmed. If you want to give your baby the best care, then you’ll need to take care of yourself as well. Self-care is the act of taking care of one’s mental and physical health; as a new mom, you’ll want to be in your best state to care for your baby. If you’re looking for new ways to relieve stress and anxiety, try out some of these methods to find what’s right for you.
Try Meditation and Yoga
Yoga is a common form of exercise that focuses on mindfulness, spirituality, and connecting with your own body. Practicing yoga can enhance your mood and control your stress levels. There are many different types of yoga that you can try depending on your fitness level. Restorative yoga involves slower movements and helps you connect with your mind and body. Another mindful practice to implement into your daily life is meditation. Meditation encourages stillness and focused breathing exercises that can help you relax whenever you’re feeling overwhelmed. Not only can yoga and meditation aid with anxiety and stress, but it can also heal body aches and upgrade your quality of sleep. If you’ve been experiencing pain while sleeping, try switching up your sleeping position. Professionals suggest sleeping on your back is a great way to reduce pain because it allows all your weight to be evenly distributed and minimizes pressure points. The main goal is to get your spine in a neutral position and practicing yoga positions daily is a great way to help reduce any pain you may be experiencing.
Take Up a Relaxing Hobby
Discovering a new hobby can be exciting. You can learn so much about yourself and expand your horizons when you take up a hobby. Almost anything can be a hobby, but if you’re feeling stressed out, you might want to consider something peaceful to do in your spare time. An activity like cooking or gardening can alleviate some of the pressure you may be feeling, and provide a sense of accomplishment. Focus your energy on a creative hobby such as painting, writing, or knitting. You’ll discover hidden talents that you didn’t know you had. Starting a new hobby can become an outlet for your stress and increase positivity in your life.
Grab Dinner With a Friend
When you have a new baby, getting out of the house can be difficult. You’re establishing a new routine with your baby and you don’t have time for daily or even weekly outings. This type of seclusion can lead to depression, anxiety, and feelings of loneliness. It’s also common to lose touch with old friends when you have a new baby to care for. Consider scheduling a night out with a friend to catch up and relieve some stress. Experts say that socialization can be beneficial for your mental health. The support that friends and family can bring can decrease levels of stress by increasing levels of oxytocin. Oxytocin is the hormone that is known to decrease anxiety and calm down the nervous system. Although you have a new baby at home to take care of, you should still take up on a friend’s invitation to dinner or initiate by inviting a loved one over to your house. Don’t be afraid to schedule time away from your child, so that you can take care of your mental health.
Create Routines to Look Forward to
As you begin life as a new mom, you’ll discover that your routines have shifted. Your days revolve around your new baby and their schedule. You’re going to need to create a new routine, while still accommodating your baby’s needs. But, changing your routine doesn’t have to be a bad thing, it can help you manage your stress throughout the day. Routines can make life feel more fulfilling and rewarding, so it’s important to create a routine that you look forward to. Try going for a walk or attending a workout class, such as Yoga, Zumba, or Pilates in the morning if you have someone available to watch the baby. Or, grab that book you’ve been wanting to read and sit down with a hot cup of tea while your baby takes their first nap of the day. Finding ways to bring peace into your routine can help you tackle day-to-day stress.
Treat Yourself
Treat yourself! You work hard every day to care for your child, and it deserves to be recognized. Whether it’s going out for your favorite coffee or having a spa day, reward yourself for everything you do for your family. It isn’t selfish to treat yourself once in a while. Indulging can bring a little extra joy into your life and curb your stress levels. The concept of “treating yourself” does not have to mean spending a lot of money on luxury items. It can simply be a form of self-care that brings you happiness. Create a list of self-care acts to choose from for the next time you’re dealing with too much stress and need to feel rejuvenated.
Manage Your Finances
One of the leading causes of stress is financial uncertainty. Most Americans are concerned with their ability, or lack thereof, to pay their bills. As a new parent, you may be finding yourself facing more costs than you had to before you had a child. Raising a child is expensive. But with proper budgeting, you can manage financial stress. Other options to consider include refinancing your home or extending your mortgage term. A longer mortgage repayment period, such as a 30-year term mortgage offers a lower monthly payment, allowing you to save money to help with the costs of childcare. By taking control of your finances, you can alleviate some of the stress that raising a child can bring.
Unwind Before Bed
A lot of us work on computers all day long, then come home and scroll through on our smartphones or watch TV before we go to bed. All of this extra screen time can make it difficult to have a restful night. In addition to excessive blue light, the information overload we receive daily can increase feelings of fear, anxiety, and stress, so it’s best to limit our consumption to avoid sensory overload. Set aside time each night to unplug and unwind before bed. Getting high quality sleep can lower your stress levels and increase the amount of energy you have every day. Be sure to relax after your baby goes to bed and eliminate screen time before bed.
Another tool for moms – whether they struggle with sweating during their sleep or waking up freezing, is the Eight Sleep Pod. Everyone has a unique sleeping temperature – and the Pod takes care of this, improving sleep quality by 32%.
The Significance of Self-Care
Self-care is important to your emotional, mental, and physical well-being. As you shift into a new chapter in your life as a mom, you may be feeling overwhelmed caring for your baby. Practicing different forms of self-care can help you manage your stress and boost your mood, and ultimately create a positive environment for your baby and yourself.
