Feeling Like Yourself Again After Having a Baby
Having a baby is one of the most incredible things you’ll ever do. Bringing new life into the world is nothing short of a miracle when you think about it. If you’re lucky enough to have a child and start a family, then of course, they will become your top priority, but as a result of this, it’s quite easy to lose yourself a little. You can still be an excellent parent while still maintaining and holding onto your own identity, and in fact it’s healthy to do so. If you’re loving parenthood but have been left wondering who you are recently beyond being a mother and partner, here’s how you can find ‘you’ again.
Think about your appearance
As a busy mother running around after children and/or tending to a baby, chances are the way you look is right down at the bottom of your priority list, which is fair enough. When you’re tired or short on time, making yourself look nice is definitely a step you can skip.
However, you don’t have to give up completely on your appearance. If you go about things in the right way, you’ll feel much more fresh and presentable, which can help greatly with self-esteem.
Visit a salon and have a cut and color that will be long-lasting and easy to maintain. Choosing a color close to your natural hair color and that works with your hair texture, means you’ll be able to style it in a minute or two each morning.
Come up with a ‘two-minute makeup routine’. This could involve a quick buffing of foundation and a swipe of mascara, but these small things can make a huge difference.
Buy yourself some clothes that are comfy and practical while still looking good. A jersey dress with a pair of leggings, flat shoes, and a cardigan will look far more put together than loungewear or tracksuit bottoms.
If you’re unhappy with your physique, then incorporating more exercise is a smart move and will boost your mental health, too. Find a gym that has a daycare, or just go on long walks with your baby.
"Although you need to wait until you’re feeling better or around six weeks postpartum. Talk to your OB-GYN about your options because exercise can also help you regain muscle tone and boost circulation,” comments Osmara Aryal, Chief Editor of motherhoodcommunity, on this topic.
If you know you don’t want any more children, you could even consider a tummy tuck to restore your stomach to its pre-baby condition, check out tummy tuck videos online to see if something like this would work for you.
Take up some hobbies
You probably don’t get much time at all as a busy parent, but if you do find you ever get a free hour or two in the week, then why not fill it with a hobby? Hobbies from home include blogging, crafts, gardening, and baking and are things you can pick up at the drop of a hat without having to make plans to leave the house. Once you have all of the initial materials, it’s something you can do whenever you like—on the rare occasion you get some time to yourself. Hobbies help to build skills and boost confidence. You can find like-minded people online to chat with about your hobby and get tips, which is a great way to make new friends too.
See friends
Sometimes, a bit of company and conversation from another adult is all the therapy you need. When you’ve been dealing with screaming kids all day and the only person talking back to you is a babbling baby, it can leave you craving some adult interaction! Seeing friends is a chance to chat, to laugh, to talk through your worries and gain another perspective. Invite friends over to your home, arrange playdates with other parent friends and meet up with your loved ones as regularly as you can. It helps you to maintain a sense of who you are. Sure, you won’t be out drinking with friends or probably enjoying fancy brunches anymore, but walking around the park together, having a picnic with the kids, catching up at a coffee shop or going for a meal, are all chances to get out of the house and enjoy the company of the people in your life.