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Do you remember the days when you could sleep in on Saturdays or if you wanted to lay on the couch after work and watch reruns of your favorite sitcoms (uninterrupted, we might add), you could? Now that you’re a new mom, that probably seems like a lifetime ago. Suddenly, your world consists of tending to all of the needs of your newborn and while it brings you lots of joy, we get why it can also be pretty stressful at times. Being a mom is a 24-hour responsibility, after all.
That’s why we’ve enclosed five very simple stress management tips; ones that will help you to stay “cool, calm and collected” as you are in the process of adjusting to your “new normal”:
Get more rest. Yes, we get why this tip might cause you to internally laugh a bit because sleep is one of the things that’s hardest to get when you have a new baby in the house. However, what tends to happen to a lot of moms is that when the baby is sleeping, they use that as a time to clean up or talk on the phone. You’re going to need as much rest as possible to keep your stress levels down and sanity levels up, so at least take a couple of naps when your child is asleep and try and go to bed about 30 minutes earlier than you did before you became a mom.
Plan your day out (the day before). With a baby, you never know what each day has in store and so it’s much easier to plan it out the day before. Lay out your clothes as well as your baby’s. If you can cook dinners that can be warmed up throughout the week, try and do that as well. Also, it can’t hurt to schedule out your shopping days and doctor appointments. All of this will help to keep you focused in the midst of the breastfeeding, diaper changes and cries for your attention.
Push the stroller (or run on the treadmill). There are many studies to support the fact that cardio can do wonders for keeping stress at bay. If your child is old enough to go outside for long periods of time (and the weather is conducive), put them in the stroller and go for a couple of walks throughout the day. If they’re not, put them in their swing as you spend a good 15-20 minutes on your treadmill.
Light some candles and drink some tea. Did you know that there are actual scents that can help to reduce stress? Jasmine, rose, lavender, sandalwood and vanilla are just a few of them. So, why not stop by a store to pick up some soy candles in those scents? And, while you are enjoying a couple of moments to yourself, drink a warm cup of some chamomile or mint tea too. It also helps to keep you calm.
Make time for yourself. It can definitely be overwhelming to know that you’re in charge of taking care of another person, but that doesn’t mean that you have to ignore your own needs in the process. Whether it’s taking bubble baths, scheduling a manicure and pedicure every other week or participating in relaxing guided meditation classes like yoga or Pilates, make sure to make some time for yourself. The more relaxed you are, the happier your baby will be.
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