Self Care With A Newborn

Before I had a baby I was bewildered when my mom friends would tell me they had no time to shower.  Honestly, it seemed a tad bit dramatic.  However now that Baby Gino is here I TOTALLY get it mom friends.

Those first few weeks with a new baby were exhausting.  I definitely started to lose myself and when I neglect my needs everything else suffers: my mindset, my marriage and ability to be fully present.

Though I may not have time for a 30 minute salt bath with a glass of wine, I quickly decided something needed to change.  I had to be intentional with fitting in self-care and make it a non-negotiable.

I’m still trying to figure things out as I go, but here are some of the ways I am practicing self-care with a newborn: 

• Shower + Mask: Leave it to motherhood to help me discover this life hack! I barely have time for a shower, so masking seemed out of the question. Now I put on my fav charcoal mask before the shower.  I get in and carefully wash my hair while give the mask time to work it’s magic before scrubbing it off IN the shower. It feels good not to have to sacrifice a weekly ritual I enjoyed pre-baby.
• Set The Mood:  I recently treated myself to an expensive candle and light it each morning while I’m having coffee.  I’ll put on some jams and Gino and I will start the morning off slow.
• Practice Gratitude: It might take me all morning but I make it a point to write in my Five Minute Journal. I’ve moved it from my bedside to the living room where we spend most of our time.  Having it highly visible reminds me to get it done.
• Movement: I finally got cleared for exercise so each day I make it a point to MOVE even if it’s just a YouTube video at home.  When I do actually get out for a yoga class it also feels like a treat to myself.
• Date Nights At Home: Instead of going to sleep with the baby, 1-2x per week my husband and I will have a little couch date. We’ll stay up and watch a show and have a glass of wine. Having adult time during the week changes EVERYTHING.
• Fresh Air: Gino and I usually take a long walk to the coffee or juice shop and it’s quickly become one of the best parts of our day. He loves to be outside and by the time we reach our destination he’s typically zonked. This gives me at least an hour to enjoy my juice/coffee on a patio, catch up on email and BLOG.
• Outsourcing: I hate grocery store runs and adding a newborn to the mix sounds murderous. To avoid that stress, I order my groceries online for curbside pickup or have them delivered.  If there’s something you hate to do and you have the means, look for ways to outsource! For example, if you hate to clean hire a service so you can spend your precious time doing something else you love.

How do you find time to practice self-care as a mom?