When you have a new baby, it can feel like it’s impossible to take care of yourself, too. But neglecting your own wellbeing isn’t healthy. You may not have time for extensive, luxurious self-care routines, but that doesn’t mean you can’t meet your basic needs.

Pushing your own physical health to the back burner will not help you do a better job of caring for your baby. By taking some time for yourself, and setting up systems that help you save time, you’ll be able to prioritize your own physical and mental wellbeing while giving your baby the love and care they need. These tips will show you how to maintain balance.

1. Set Up a Meal Train in Advance

Before your baby arrives, start to think about meal prep. Talk to your local family and friends about setting up a meal train so that you’ll have tasty, home-cooked food dropped off after your baby is born. What if someone asks you for gift ideas, and you already have everything you need for your baby? You may want to ask for gift cards to meal delivery services or your favorite local restaurants so that you can simply order takeout on busy nights.

Furthermore, it’s a good idea to stock your fridge, freezer, and pantry prior to your due date. You can cook up freezer-friendly meals, go grocery shopping for nonperishable snacks and pantry staples, and make sure that your kitchen is full of all the things you love to eat. This will save you lots of stress once you welcome your new baby!

2. Ask for Help — Often

Today, new parents often feel like they have to try to handle everything on their own. But this is impossible. Everyone needs help sometimes, especially when you’re caring for a baby! When you have lots of help from your family support system, you’ll be able to make some time for self-care, even as a new parent with lots of responsibilities on your plate.

You can ask your loved ones for help before your due date rolls around. Talk to them about what you expect you’ll need help with, and see who is willing and able to pitch in. Your parents might be able to provide childcare, and your local friends may be happy to help clean the house or run errands for you.

3. Don’t Worry About Entertaining

Sometimes, new parents end up welcoming lots of visitors to their home and feeling pressure to entertain them. First, remember that it is not your responsibility to entertain everyone who stops by. In fact, you don’t have to welcome people into your home at all. Your true friends will understand if you’d prefer that people drop off food and cards while leaving you to relax with your family! This is especially true for your friends who have children and have already gone through the postpartum period.

4. Spend Time Outside When Possible

As a new parent, you might end up spending a lot of time in your home. At first, this is practically unavoidable. Your baby’s immune system is not strong enough for you to bring them around crowds yet. But relaxing outdoors when possible is a good idea. If you have a porch space or a backyard, you can get some fresh air and sunshine. When you’re ready, you might want to talk to a local friend about going for walks together so that you can socialize while keeping an eye on your baby.

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Are you struggling to care for yourself while caring for a newborn? Talking to a therapist can help you find balance. Reach out to us today to discuss your options for scheduling your first counseling for women session.