Being a new parent is one of the hardest experiences in your
life, and it can really push your body and mind to the limit. Taking steps to
look after yourself and keeping yourself healthy is essential as a new parent –
after all, you want to be the best parent you can be for your new child, and
you want the time you have with them experiencing all their small moments
rather than being too exhausted to really enjoy it. Don’t worry – we’ve lined
up three tips to make sure you can look after your body and mind during this
exciting, but challenging time.
Sleep Right
New babies can really disturb your sleep schedule, but that
doesn’t mean you should be missing out on sleep. It’s important that you’re
still aiming for 8 hours a day, even if a little broken up, so you can start
the day rested and ready to take on the world. Keeping a routine is one of the
easiest ways to do this – not only does it help you, but it helps your partner
and baby also get into a routine, meaning your body gets more accustomed to
sleeping at a certain time and waking at a certain time, meaning it’ll be ready
to wake up when you need to.
Sleeping comfortably is also incredibly important – no
matter how much sleep you’re getting, it won’t mean anything if you’re sleeping
on a mattress that doesn’t feel right. Although you’ll be wanting to spend all
your money on your new arrival, spending a little on yourself is beneficial to
both of you, and can really make a difference to your self-assurance and
steadiness when you need it most. The Mattress Guide have a list of the top
mattresses in the UK. Their extensive research means not only do they tell you
all the information you need to know about a mattress, such as size, but they
also weigh up the pros and cons for you, meaning it’s easy for you to pick out
the best type of
mattress for you.
Don’t Neglect Exercise
Exercising has a bigger impact than you think – we’re not
just talking body here, but mind, too. Exercise is not only great at keeping
your joints and muscles working – it has plenty of health benefits, from
reducing your risk of cardiovascular disease to relieving stress and
depression. Even 15 minutes can make all the difference in the way you feel
physically and mentally.
Getting outside for a bit isn’t just good for you, though –
a dose of fresh air is also good for your baby. Fresh air has been shown to
help babies feel calmer in the home and sleep better, meaning not only do they
feel happier, but it means you can rest a little easier too. Plus, the more
experience infants get with the outside and new things, the quicker they can
become independent and open to new opportunities, too, helping them grow and
develop healthily. Click
here for more information on how fresh air is beneficial to infants, and
how to help your child get some fresh air, too.
Make Time for Your Mental Health
When we’re caring for a new child, it’s easy to be so
focused on them, that we forget to look after our own minds. However, with
risks such as postnatal depression (in men and women), it’s important to keep
yourself as happy and as stable as possible. Not only do you deserve to feel
good, but feeling good allows you to be the best parent you can be.
Dedicating some time for yourself every day is a great way
to reset your mind and relieve some stress – after all, raising a child is not
an easy job! Asking your partner to look after the baby for an hour (and you
doing the same for them, too) gives you some time to dedicate to just yourself.
There are plenty of great ways to spend this time, and it all depends on your
own needs. If you find yourself pushed for time, or always busy throughout the
day, spending this time winding down, watching something relaxing, a bath, a
game, or whatever helps you feel completely chilled out is a great way to
relieve some of that built up stress from the day.
If you’re looking for a little more than just relaxing
though, it can be a great idea to pick up old or new hobbies to give you
something to focus on and feel good about. Mindfulness is also a great thing to
practice as often as you can to help build your resilience and coping in times
of stress – you can find a guide for beginners here.
Raising your first child is never easy, but nothing worth it
in life is easy – by taking care of yourself, you can ensure every second will
be as enjoyable as possible.
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