Welcome to motherhood! Get ready to put ‘going to the toilet’ on your schedule, because it will feel like you don’t have time to even do that for a little while. Actually, scrap that, schedules are entirely out the window for the time being.
Well, maybe that’s not entirely true, but it is one of the many differences in your new L.A.B. (Life After Birth).
Somehow the acronym seems appropriate now that my daily life has become so experimental in the wake of sleepless nights and zero time to take care of myself. You never know how things will go when your brain is not working properly and all the usual routines have disappeared.
Nonetheless, a few gems of wisdom are getting us through and helping me to stay semi-sane so I thought it was time to share the love with my top 5 tips for new mum sanity, hope you enjoy them.
1 – Do as little as possible
Take shortcuts, don’t sweat the small stuff and let go of the need to be general manager of everything. This means you are allowed to ask for help, I mean what’s the worst that can happen? Trust your support people to help if they can and say no if they can’t. At the end of the day this will bring you closer to those that love you.
2 – Be kind to yourself
Now that you’ve stopped doing everything you’ll notice that things are not as organised as usual, or as clean, or as perfect. And you know what? That’s ok. They are not meant to be. Now let yourself off the hook and sit down.
3 – Take a lot of breaks
Whenever you possibly can lie down. If you can’t bring yourself to do that, at least sit-down and put your feet up. This will make a world of difference to how you feel, not just to yourself on the inside but also to those you’re living with. Plus, the rough skin on your feet will get softer because you’re not doing as many miles per day. One less pedicure a year = awesome.
4 – Be actively grateful
Your little bundle of joy is not always the best company let’s face it – it’s easy to lose the joyful feeling when you need it most. So if you’re not smiling, at least be grateful for what it is you’re not smiling about. If there’s pooh everywhere and no-one to help, just take a second amongst it all to appreciate what made the pooh and all the things we are learning and experiencing as parents. And be sure to remember that this too (and this pooh) shall pass.
5 – Laugh whenever you can
No matter what the situation, if there’s any way to find the lighter side, seek it out and use it. The hardest thing I have found through the sleep deprivation, and actually the SELF-deprivation, is to keep my sense of humour. Tell your friends to call and make you laugh, clip comics to save for you, do whatever it takes to get the smile on your dial whenever possible. Fake it till you make it. Just do your best and smile on. IT WILL HELP (even if you’re yelling it out loud somewhat nervously and cathartically).
Now, off to close my eyes for a minute before the babe wakes me right on cue straight after that…
Keep it light ladies and gents, and let me know how you’re going if you can, would love to hear from others out there swimming in a sea of baby-induced confusion and maybe even still loving it as much as I am.
Soul Mamma OUT.
Alena Turley is an Australian mentor for mothers. Founder of the pioneering blog, the Soul Mama Hub, her wellbeing membership offers a powerful pathway for mothers ready to go from over-extended, stuck in the daily grind, to empowered, inspired and energised so they can become the CHANGEMAKERS they dream of being.