New parents have a lot to handle and sometimes caring completely for another person can wear you down. Check out these four tips to help new parents relieve and manage stress:
New parents have a lot to handle and sometimes caring completely for another person can wear you down. While spending time with the new family addition is important, it is also important for new moms and dads to manage their stress level. Check out these four tips to help new parents relieve and manage stress:
The early bird gets the quiet
When you are a new mom, even a few minutes of quiet may help your stress level. Waking up a half hour or even only fifteen minutes before your baby may give you the peace and quiet you need to prepare for the day.
Turn it off
Take a break from electronics and take time to yourself away from email and the other stresses of life. Turning off your phone, the television, radio, or anything else that may make unwanted noise can help you get those few minutes of quiet. Even if you spend your time playing on the floor with your baby, those few minutes can really make a difference in your mood and stress level.
Set small goals
When you are taking care of a new baby, daily tasks such as making dinner may seem to take all of what energy you have left. Instead of telling yourself, “I have to get up and make dinner,” try setting small goals such as “I will go into the kitchen now,” or “I will put on the water for the pasta.” Breaking down your tasks can help you mentally feel less overwhelmed, as well as giving you little bits of satisfaction with completing each task.
Take a break
Often with a new baby in the house, scheduled time for relaxation is overlooked. With ever-growing to-do lists and obligations AND a new baby, it is easy to feel overwhelmed. Try to narrow your to-do list down to only necessary tasks and set aside a few minutes of your time to do what makes you happy and feel relaxed. If you can, include in your daily schedule a few minutes of relaxation time every day.
