Becoming a mom for the first time is a thrilling and unforgettable moment. But it does come with several responsibilities. Because of them, your priority will be caring for your baby and your entire family. And as a result, you might put your own well-being on the back burner.
But you shouldn’t do this to yourself. At some point, you’ll get exhausted and won’t be able to fulfill your responsibilities properly. So you still need to look after yourself no matter how busy you get. Self-care is important as it will help reduce stress, overcome anxiety and depression, and function well on a day-to-day basis.
Your self-care doesn’t have to be grand though. Even the small things can help you feel better. Below are some ideas you can try.
Go for a Walk
When you get free time, go out for a walk. This may not seem like self-care at first. But walking every day for at least 30 minutes is good for your health, and this is exactly why it’s a form of self-care. Many studies have found that walking every day reduces one’s risk of stroke and lowers risk of death.
Ideally, you should walk around your neighborhood during the morning to get some vitamin D. Forget about your errands in this short time and just focus on yourself.
Go Online Shopping
Retail therapy is a popular way to relieve stress. It was also found to reduce sadness. So if you’re feeling down about having a lot to do or just feeling sad for no reason, buying something for yourself may be the solution.
Thankfully, you don’t have to go out to shop. The internet virtually has everything you’d like, and there are many e-commerce sites you can buy goods from. If you want new clothes or a new pair of shoes, you can find them there. If you want to look at accessories for women and men, you can shop online as well.
Treat Yourself with Your Favorite Food
Pregnancy is a tough period when it comes to eating. You might have lost your appetite several times for no reason. Or even if you want to eat certain foods, your body doesn’t agree with them. Once you’ve regained your appetite, don’t be afraid to spoil yourself with your favorite food. Grab your favorite dessert or order the takeout food you’ve been craving for a while.
But you need to make sure that you don’t overeat. You must stay mindful of your health. For example, while you may miss alcohol, you need to be mindful of when you drink it and how much. Ideally, you should only have one serving per day. And you need to wait at least two hours after consumption before nursing your baby. But the better option is to avoid alcohol completely.
Pick up a Hobby, New or Not
Entertaining yourself is also a form of self-care. Consider revisiting a hobby you had before you started your pregnancy or even way back. If you don’t have any hobby to revisit, you can always pick up a new one.
You can get a hobby that doesn’t take much time but is still interesting, such as reading and answering puzzles. You can also try something more creative, such as knitting, crocheting, and coloring.
Having hobbies will benefit you in many ways. It can help you relieve stress. Your hobbies will also keep you mentally stimulated and, thus, reduce your risk of mental illnesses such as dementia. And who knows? Your hobbies may become something that you and your child can bond over as they grow up.
Take a Nap
Among all possible methods of self-care, probably the best one is the simplest one: to take a nap. New mothers are probably the most sleep-deprived individuals. They wake up early in the morning to care for their family. They also can’t sleep until their babies are asleep. And in the wee hours, they have to wake up several times to nurse their babies.
Sleep deprivation is a dangerous thing for new mothers. Lack of sleep can lower their alertness. And they’re more likely to make easily avoidable mistakes.
Thus, you should try to take a nap when you get the time. You can ask someone to look after your baby while you sleep, perhaps your spouse or other family members.
Becoming a new mother is a huge milestone. While it comes with many responsibilities, you shouldn’t overwork yourself. Remember that you need to take a break. You need to do some self-care to recharge yourself.
