A newborn is a bundle of happiness, joy, and lots of crying at night. And one of the most common problems that all parents have to deal with is their child’s irregular sleep pattern, which can affect their own health and lifestyle directly.
There are so many tasks to tick off our checklist throughout the day, but if you have your little ones around you, there is no way you are going to get even a single job done. That is why your baby’s nap time is the best time to get some of your routine tasks done. This is the time to take advantage of, recharge yourself, and make the most out of every single minute your child is asleep.
If you’re unsure where to start, here are a few things you can easily take care of when your child has dozed off.
Laundry
Having a child at home inevitably means there will be a pile of dirty clothes to get through. When your child is asleep, it is the perfect time to get the laundry done, which you’ve probably been putting off for a week.
While you head to switch on the washing machine, make sure to also switch on your baby monitor to keep a constant check on the baby. Once the clothes are washed and dried, you can always carry your washed load to your baby and fold them right next to them. Put some soothing music on and say goodbye to your parenting woes, one fold at a time.
Planning and Prepping Meals
Taking care of your baby shouldn’t come at the cost of your health. If you want to look over your little one, it is crucial that you keep yourself healthy so that you can function at your best. There are only so many times you can order takeaway before it starts affecting your health. If you think making food every day is a daunting task and something you can’t take out the time for, start planning and prepping your meals in advance.
Whenever your baby is asleep, you can put your culinary skills to the test and whip up something that is easy to make, nutritious, and will keep you full for several hours (or at least till the baby takes their next nap).
Grocery Shopping
If you intend to cook and plan your meals, you also need to make sure that you stock up on all the necessary items. Putting off grocery shopping is never a good idea. Create a list of all the essentials you’ll need for the week according to your meal plans.
You may not want to leave your baby when they’re asleep, so you can resort to online shopping and place an order for all your requirements. Keep a list of everything that you need to stock up or replace in the kitchen, and keep on adding it to your grocery list so that you can place an order for everything at once.
Doing the Dishes
After the groceries are bought and the meals prepped, it’s best not to put off doing all cleaning and the dishes. The next day when you come back to a clean and tidy kitchen, you will be able to save up a lot of time.
Always do the dishes right after they get dirty. Once your child is up, it will be challenging to take out time and do the dishes. Any time you get it, make sure you make use of some of that time for cleaning up.
Cleaning the House
Now that you have a child in your house, it is all the more important to keep your humble abode immaculately clean. You might not have the time to do a deep cleanse by yourself, but some light cleaning every now and then will go a long way. However, when the baby is asleep, it is best to keep the vacuum cleaners or any noisy appliances at a bay.
You don’t want to wake your kid up with all the cleaning you have been up to. Try to maintain your house regularly so that too much of the dust and dirt doesn’t get accumulated, or you will just end up with more work to do later.
Gardening
While you’re busy being a parent and dealing with the myriad responsibilities that come with it, the one way you can carve out some time for yourself is to garden. Gardening can be considered a relaxing activity that has been touted to give many physical and mental benefits.
If you have missed looking over your plant babies for the past couple of months, it is time to get back into some gardening action. So while you take care of nature, nature takes care of you too. The presence of a beautiful and appealing garden will brighten up your dull, tiring days. If nothing, consider it something you are looking after for your kids to enjoy in the future!
Take a Nap
The fact that you need to calm down and rest your body cannot be emphasized enough. No matter how many tasks you have piled up, you will never be able to get the job done unless you have the energy and the right mindset to do it. A nap can not only make you feel relaxed, but also reduce stress, boost your memory, and help you to take care of your baby better.
Take a power nap for 30 to 40 minutes; you’ll wake up recharged and with more energy to get to your tasks. With all the parenting and constant looking after the child, you shouldn’t feel guilty if you feel mentally drained every now and then and need to recharge.
Exercise
Trying to fit exercise, meditation, or yoga into your schedule while caring for your baby can be difficult. When you have a baby to look after, trips to the gym turn into trips to the baby stores. However, this doesn’t mean that you stop looking over yourself.
It is essential to inculcate some sort of exercise into your routine. Even a 10-minute yoga session or a HIIT workout can do wonders for your body. Your pre-baby fitness levels would have been different, but something is better than nothing.
If hitting the gym feels like too much, go for long walks. Or you could try following along with exercise videos online.
Tips on Staying Productive During Your Baby’s Nap
If you are finding it challenging to stay on track and be productive during your baby’s nap, here are a few tips for you to begin with:
- Create a list of all the tasks you wish to accomplish in a day. Writing down a to-do list will give you a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction when you tick off each task.
- Do one thing at a time. Before you move on to doing the next task, make sure the first one is completed. Multitasking is never a good idea.
- Make sure you set small tasks for yourself throughout the day so that you don’t lose the motivation to do something productive. Take a small break between each task to rejuvenate yourself before you pick the next one up.
- If you think a little bit of assistance can help you do a task better, ask for it. If someone is willing to help you out with your chores, from taking out the trash to cooking a meal, never deny the offer.
- Set a timer for every task and try to complete a job within its allotted time.
- Try to remain consistent and committed to every task you pick up.
- If something unexpected comes up and you cannot complete a task in its allotted time, move on and start afresh.
- When you have a job to do or a task to complete, staying off your mobile phone or social media platforms helps. The more distractions you are surrounded with, the less likely it is for you to focus on your task and get it done in time.
- With all the work you have reserved for yourself, don’t forget to take some leisure time. Read a few pages of your favorite book, watch an episode of the show you’ve been wanting to, call an old friend — do anything that will put your mind at rest.
Final Thoughts
When you start your parenting journey, several emotional and physical issues can crop up that you would never have expected. You’ll have days when you cry yourself to sleep or just not feel like doing anything.
Hang in there.
Although having a baby comes with its fair share of ups and downs, it is mostly all good, and all works out fine in the end. No matter how taxing everything seems right now, years down the line, you will laugh it off with your kids.
While you take care of your baby, make sure that your own needs are met. Don’t exert yourself to the point of burnout. If you have been able to accomplish even one task during your baby’s nap, you’ve hit the parenthood jackpot.
