5 Tips for Mothers Who Need Time to Themselves
Being a mother is one of the most beautiful experiences in life for most women. But at the beginning, many mothers find themselves overwhelmed and feel they don’t have any time to take care of themselves.
Going in for a medical check-up or going to a beauty salon for a haircut or a wax can feel like an adventure for many mothers. But to maintain their emotional health, it is very important not to forget about themselves and keep up activities they did before giving birth.
Some feel that when they start their new daily routine as mothers, they are totally changing their way of life up until now. Many feel alone and overwhelmed.
They need support and understanding of their immediate environment. Additionally, starting to breastfeed is often complicated for many mothers. Even though they know it’s the best nourishment for their newborn, sometimes the start is complicated and many mothers feel burdened.
Experts recommend getting out of the house with the baby, whether it’s to the park, the beach or the mountains. And of course, trying to lead the social life one maintained before giving birth.
Although there are some places you can’t go with a newborn, many activities can be adapted for the family. We’re going to give you 5 simple tips for mothers who need time to themselves.
Tips to make time for you
Maintain activities
For most mothers, it’s very important to keep up your priorities and activities. For example, if you like walking, try to look for a way to go out for a stroll with with your baby once you’ve recovered.
You could go for a walk with your child in a papoose or a stroller. You could also try leaving your baby with your partner or someone you trust for half an hour a day so you can go for a walk. Schedule it for every day. Try to keep up your interests, whether they’re reading, watching a TV series, or going for a swim. Don’t give up everything that you like because you’re a mother.
Look for support
Even though we mothers are often overwhelmed, it’s hard for us to ask for help. Don’t hesitate. Many times a couple just isn’t enough to take care of a baby, work and do household chores. Mothers have to ask for help from family and friends who are able to do some of the housework.
It’s also a good idea to seek support and empathy from other moms who are in the same situation. Go down to the park even though your child is just a baby and talk to other moms. They will surely understand your fears and concerns! Also try to connect with mothers through a group or online.
Don’t forget to take care of yourself
Many mothers forget to take care of themselves during the first three months of their baby’s life and even during the first year for some. Don’t forget about yourself. Believe it or not, it’s very important for your emotional stability.
Try to get to the hairdresser, to get a wax or have your nails done like you used to before and get the exercise that you would like. If you’ve put on a bit of weight, look for a way to get back in shape with diet and exercise. And if you find yourself feeling depressed at a particular time, don’t hesitate to seek professional help as soon as possible.
Don’t ask too much of yourself
Obviously at first you won’t be able to do the same things you did before. You will definitely find yourself overwhelmed at my points in the day and you’ll feel you’ve fallen short.
Don’t worry because this is the most logical thing and totally normal. It is a situation that all mothers go through at the beginning. You have to be patient and not expect to be able to do exactly what you did before. Have a rest and try to enjoy the little things.
A quiet life
The best thing is trying to enjoy this time in our lives without rushing about. Soon our new baby will be growing up and we’ll lose out on their best moments if we’re always overwhelmed. Try unplugging the phone and ignore your cell or Whatsapp whenever you want to have a rest.
Enjoy the “now” of these steps and whatever daily activity you are doing. And try not to feel bogged down in schedules. What else do you feed the baby in the next half hour or so?
Set your priorities in life and try to live in the moment. Don’t hesitate to pause your usual rhythm at this stage of your life, above all during maternity leave or when breastfeeding. Your emotional health is more important than anything else.
All cited sources were thoroughly reviewed by our team to ensure their quality, reliability, currency, and validity. The bibliography of this article was considered reliable and of academic or scientific accuracy.
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- Pateman, C.; and Agra Romero, M. J. (1995). El contrato sexual. Madrid: Anthropos.
- Scott, J.; Crompton, R., and Lyonette, C., eds. (2010). “Gender Inequalities in the 21st Century: New Barriers and Continuing Constraints”, Asia Pacific Journal of Human Resources, 48 (3): 378-381.
