New parents often get swept up in the chaos that can be having a new baby. You’re learning, they’re learning…you’re meeting for the first time! All changes in life come with a measure of zapping your brain space but a new baby? That’s a whole other level. We’ve developed a few helpful daily “new parent” habits that can offer you a little peace as you navigate your new normal.
Daily Habit 1: Fill your reusable water bottle (and drink it!)
Ok, this one seems elementary but we put a lot of stock in it. Our bodies are made up of a large percentage of water! When we are low on hydration it affects how our brains work, our emotional state, and all of our body systems. Have you ever tried to comfort a crying baby with a raging headache? Not pretty. This very basic step helps you ensure your baseline is covered and you can push through things more easily. Trust us, drink up!
Daily Habit 2: Kick the phone out of your room.
We all know the jokes of the iPad babies who can’t do anything without a screen in front of them. What if we told you that we are often the iPad babies? It’s been proven that starting your day with doomscrolling can negatively affect the rest of your day. There has even been a small study that showed starting your day with your phone can increase stress levels. Some have also said that because your brain receives Dopamine hits while scrolling social media that it can shift the rest of your day towards wanting to be on your phone more.
By plugging your phone in outside your bedroom you can avoid being on it just before bed and at the beginning of your day. When you avoid your phone for the first 30 minutes to and hour, you’re likely to be in a more grounded headspace. Especially during sleep regressions – you’re going to need that grounded start! Create new parent habits: snag yourself a traditional alarm clock and keep those devices out of your bedroom or at least plugged in out of reach!
Daily Habit 3: Develop a morning ritual that feels good to you
Ritual carries a connotation of spirituality with it but, at its core, a ritual is just a routine that you carry out with regularity and intention. Now that baby has arrived, your morning ritual is probably thrown off. Redeveloping one that supports your day is important and worth the effort. Often we hear advice of “wake up before the baby does” but anyone who has ever given birth to an early riser knows that a 4AM wake up is simply out of the question.
We’re not going to give you a rigid suggestion. Rather, we invite you to create a morning routine that supports your family’s unique needs. For some this may be setting a kettle to boil for tea while you brush your teeth. For others this may include setting baby back down for an early nap and taking a shower. Whatever it looks like for you, we encourage you to put in the time to develop it.
Daily Habit 4: Movement
Movement is important for every living being. Our body systems need the support of movement to build and maintain muscle, for bone health, and even just for general mental wellbeing. Building in movement throughout your day could feel daunting when you have a new baby needing you seemingly their every waking moment. A great thing to introduce? Babywearing! Not just a trend for “crunchy” parents, this technique has been around for ages to simplify parents’ lives and soothe sleepy babies effortlessly. Incredible new parent habits: schedule in a morning walk, attend a baby and me Yoga class, or find another way that feels good to get your bodies in motion.
Daily Habit 5: Closing Shifts
If you’ve ever worked in a service industry job you know all about the closing shift. If you haven’t, here’s the main goal: to make the opening shift’s job easier. At home both of these shifts just happen to be yours. A closing shift could be as simple as this: tidy up after dinner, start the dishwasher and washing machine, wipe down countertops, and do a quick spot sweep of the main areas. If baby is waking overnight, it’s also a great idea to prep bottles, pump parts, and a snack for yourself/your partner and have them ready and waiting. The closing shift is one habit we think is definitely worth your time to implement!
Let’s be honest, a baby changes everything. New parents don’t need to get swept up in the chaos. With a lot of intention and a little structure, you can help train yourself alongside your baby. Setting these helpful routines can be the difference between stressed and smooth sailing.
Pro tip: if you find yourself struggling with motivation or commitment to new parent habits, try setting a timer. Knowing the amount of time a task may take can help you reason your way through starting it. If you can say, “I give myself 15 minutes to reset the kitchen,” it may seem like a more attainable goal. The key? Stick to that time. Anything not done is for the morning shift. ;)
