As a new mom balancing my time each day is a real challenge. I was feeling super out of control and it kinda scared me. Postpartum hormones, plus increased workload at home, breastfeeding on demand along with exhaustion from sleepless nights add up to days that are totally out of whack. I was feeling like it was a feat just making it through the day.
Pre-baby mornings were a special time for me. “Me Time” even. I’d wake up early, enjoy a cup of tea, read some blogs, do some spiritual work (reading, meditation, journaling etc) eat, workout, shower and head to work.
Now my mornings are diaper change, nurse baby, play with baby, try to guzzle some tea down, try to get baby down for a morning nap, pass out once baby is down. Wake up when baby fusses, diaper change, nurse baby, play with baby, try to eat something that doesn’t require actual cooking…. you get the picture.
I’m putting baby first (which I should be, IMO) and so many other things are getting left behind. My spiritual life, my business, writing, and maintaining the house are all suffering.
Having a morning routine helped me stay on track with my goals, my to do list items, and let me start my day more refreshed and ready for whatever was ahead. These past several weeks of living without one has my head all messed up. I know it’ll be a while before I get baby on a routine, so I at least want to get myself back on one.
I don’t know what to expect in the next month with Rohan, sleep-wise, but I’m making a tentative morning routine battle plan to try out. I’ll tweak if necessary but I want to try to include exercise, shower, spiritual work, and eating before noon 
Do you have a morning routine? How did yours change post-baby?
Don’t if this works for you or even if it is possible, but I like to schedule 6 am jogs into my morning routine. For some reason, my mind always seems so much clearly and focused once I return from my morning job. I’m also so much more organized and productive when I run in the morning. If you can sneak away from baby for 30 minutes in the morning, I suggest you try it.
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i can’t help with this one either but i am sure you will be able to have a routine soon and things will settle a little bit more. is hubby available to help for a few moments while you do something relaxing like feeding your spiritual side or something like that….let me know when you figure something out!
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Now that I am back at work we have a routine, but when I was home with baby, he pretty much ran the routine. It was baby sleeping? Mommy Sleeping. Everything else I just try to get done while he is awake and calm. You are very right, a lot of things fall slack during this time, but it gets better, right now baby is in need of you round the clock. You will get your “me” time back, promise!
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I still don’t have a set schedule. I kind of roll with the punches. I do most of my things in the evening when my husband gets home and I can steal away for a few hours. I used to beat myself up about it but in the end as long as it gets done is all I am concerned about. I think stressing yourself about it makes it worse.
Just focus on the baby right now. Everything will fall in place. Just get the things in where they fit in so you at least feel like you are tending to yourself some. The schedule may or may not come!
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Very much cheering for you. It does get better. Now my little guy is sleeping through the night and napping regularly. It really does get better with time. At least so far. My baby is only 5 months
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The routine with baby will change as he grows. After he is three months things will begin to get a bit easier too.
Just make sure you rest while he’s asleep and even now with a three year old not everything gets done like it did before her.
My boy is 8 weeks and I just started feeling somewhat normal on some days. I just set out to get 1-2 things done a day on my to-do list. So start off small, maybe try to get your meditation in and work with that for a week and add 1 more thing next week, etc.
That’s what I have been doing b/c I have so much to do. I also cut some stuff out. Laundry is once a week, dishes once a day, etc. I can’t do it all and I realize that. Oh and I also have a toddler so yeah… I look crazy most days too. Lol! Being a SAHM/WAHM is not easy at all…
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All I can say is, don’t fight it. When Zee was born, my mornings were turned upside down. The day revolved around her and night. This stage will pass soon, and you’ll have some time to yourself again.
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It gets better as they get older. My little one is now 5 months and she is sleeping longer. I still have the same morning routine that I had before the baby of watching the morning news and getting ready for the day. I wake up a little earlier now, about 20 minutes earlier than I did before the baby, but it gives me “me time” before I need to get the little one ready for the day. It really helps to get as much as you can at night for the next day. I have moved some of my “me time” activities to completing them during my lunch hour or when she goes to sleep at night. You just have to establish a routine that works for you and your baby.
at the moment i’ve thrown all my routine out somewhere because my mind is not in the right place. i have to pack and my house is a chaos thus my mind and my routine
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sounds like you have a great plan. i’m not a mommy but my friends who’ve stayed home talked about how it was so hard to get out of the house even to go for a walk because so much would happen and then it would be time for a nap. i think having a plan is great and even if you hit just a few points on the plan at least you can cross a few off the list. i’m learning lots from you lady. sounds like your figuring it out and moving positively through the changes.
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