How to get stuff done. Check out this guide on how to get things done in newborn time. 1. Write your tasks down Those hours of feeding and rocking and holding a sleeping baby can be anxiety-inducing if you have your head full of all the things you need to DO, but you can’t actually do them. The best thing you can do is get them out of your head. Have a notepad or a blackboard or your phone nearby and write things down when you think of them. 2. Delegate, Outsource, Prioritise, Ask For Help You are not the only person in the world who can do the things on your list. Let your ego go for a moment and get help. Think of everyone else who could do a task on that list and ask them! 3. Take Advantage Of Ten Minutes You know when your baby is milk drunk after a feed and will nod off for a few minutes? Use that time! They often wake up for the second side but in the meantime, you’ve had time for a glass of water or a trip to the toilet alone - bliss!When you do have your hands free consult your list. Let’s face it - your brain is now mush. You can hardly remember your children’s name let alone the minor domestic task you’d planned to accomplish. Your list can take the place of your AWOL short-term memory.Just get one small thing done and be PROUD! You may need to lower your standards of what it takes to make you feel accomplished! 4. Use The Happy Awake Time As a first-time mum I didn’t realise I could shower when my baby was awake - now I just take the baby rocker into the bathroom with me. Of course, you want to take some time to appreciate those baby smiles, but happy awake time is a great time to take a do some yoga or let your baby learn to play independently without constant entertainment. 5. Don’t Check On Your Sleeping Baby Babies grunt and groan a lot in their sleep. They hiccup and fart and squeak and as a mother, you are biologically primed to be super sensitive to even the tiniest sigh. Resist the urge to run to your baby every time they make a sound. Your baby will cry long and loud when they really need your attention. If you hear a wriggle or a snore step away from the cot and get on with your day. Sometimes your noisy baby is still asleep or can get themselves back to sleep without your help. Sometimes your baby is awake and happy (see above) so there is no need to pick them up unless you want to. It can help to go outside and hang out the laundry - you may be surprised to find that your baby is asleep when you get back. And you just ticked something off your to- do list - congratulations! 6. Get A Good Baby Carrier I put this one down with a caveat. Don’t carry your baby until your body is strong. Get checked out by a physio and chiro, preferably with your baby carrier. Make sure your hips are stable, your back is strong and your pelvic floor and core strength are switching on when you need them. Generally, recovery from pregnancy and childbirth takes 6 weeks, so only carry your baby for short bursts before then and really tune in to your body as otherwise you can cause long-term problems.
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