I never realized how much time I had until I had a baby. What could I have possibly done with all of my free time before that, I wondered? What ridiculous hours I slept – nine, sometimes!
Seriously, though, when you are home with a baby, it can be difficult to take a break. I remember how I felt when I first left my daughter to get my hair cut. She was about 6 weeks old. I panicked and counted the minutes until I could see her again.
Taking a break doesn’t need to mean that you leave your baby, though. Little breaks can become a part of your everyday routine. Here are some ways to take some time for yourself when you have a newborn.
Take advantage of nursing time
One of the beautiful things about nursing your baby is the fact that you often sit down to do it. Now, I nursed my daughter on the go, in the sling, and all sorts of places. But my preferred place to nurse was sitting on the couch. Now that I have an active preschooler, I rarely sit on the couch anymore. Take advantage of that bonding time!
Take a nap when baby naps
Yes, this sounds idealistic, but if you have older children in school or preschool or if this is your first child, doze or nap while your baby naps. Or do something that is mindless.
Do something that is meaningful to you while baby naps
Alternatively, you can do something that inspires you while your baby naps. Write. Read a book. Don’t do housework!
Go for a walk, run, or bike
Get a jogging stroller or a baby bike carrier and bring baby along for some fresh air and exercise. You’ll both return invigorated – or perhaps your baby will sleep along the way. I trained for a marathon using a jogging stroller during my daughter’s nap times.
Go to events
Sometimes it can feel like a drain to focus solely on one little person all of the time. Or two or three little people. As a story teller and as a parent, I understand that part of the value of free community events like story times are that they get people out of the house and the kids get engaged by someone who isn’t mom or dad!
How do you take care of yourself when you have a new baby?