When I speak to new moms at Life With a Baby programs, it brings me back to the first year of having my first son… boy was it isolating and frightening!

A new (or even experienced) mom is so busy taking care of her kids, along with work and the million other things on her to-do list, there is never any time left for herself.

How do moms find a balance? If only I had this list when I had my first child, maybe it would have helped. Here are 11 tips for new moms ~ on taking care of YOU:

1.  Get more sleep.

Take a nap when your baby/toddler naps. Who cares if housework is piling up, you need this rest.  The more sleep you get, the more you can function normally… without wanting to tear off your husband’s head.

2.  Eat Well.

Eat a balanced, healthy diet and take a multi-vitamin.  Can’t stress enough how important it is to find the time to sit down and have a proper, nutritious meal. Especially if you are breastfeeding, you need those extra calories to help with milk production and to refuel – your body needs it.

3.  Exercise.

Although it’s difficult enough to find any free time,  keeping your body healthy and active will also help you feel better and boost your energy. If you can’t join a gym, get together with other moms for simple exercises like stroller walking!

4.  Meditate.

Don’t forget about your mental state of being; take up yoga, meditation or any other form of a stress reliever.  Even just 10 minutes of quiet and deep breathing will help clear your mind and relax.

5.  De-stress.

Even just 15 minutes a day – either a bubble bath or reading a book can help you unwind and de-stress.  Just a short break will change your perspective.

 

6.  Just say NO!

You will be pulled in a hundred different directions and invited to family functions and friends’ events.  Although your heart is in the right place, you just can’t do it all.  Learn to say “no” to commitments – don’t try to do everything, or else you’ll end up feeling stressed out.

7.  Simplify Household chores. 

Find products/ways to help do the job faster and easier. Schedule cleaning tasks to a specific day of the week to help keep you organized.  Get the hubby to help around the house.  If financially possible, hire someone to clean the house every 1-2 weeks.

8.  Ask for help.

Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Call your mom or mother-in-law to give you a hand.  Family far away? Find a local baby-sitter or a high-school student helper.  Or if you have a group of mom friends with young ones, take turns watching the kids so each of you can have an hour or two to run errands or simply take a nap.

9.  Socialize.

Just because you’ve had a baby, it doesn’t mean you can’t still have a social life.  Join a women’s book club or go out for a girls night out – you will need it!

10.  Have Date nights.

You’ll also need to spend some time alone with your husband.  Once the baby arrives, it’s all about the baby… some couples lose a little bit of their relationship and need to get back to that place.

Plan a date night every month or two. Rekindle the romance you had before the baby arrived.

11.  Get support.

From friends, parents, even a counsellor. Meet other moms in your area and open discussions – you’ll be surprised how many feel exactly as you do!