The moment a child is born, the mother is also born. She never existed before. The woman existed, but the mother, never. A mother is something absolutely new.

Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh

Raise your hand if your life as a new parent is different to how you imagined it.

No matter how much planning we do, or how many books we read, real life always ends up being different.

Sometimes our unmet expectations can leave us feeling frustrated or guilty – our love for our babies should conquer all, right?

Don’t feel bad if you’re struggling. Both new and experienced parents don’t always talk about it, but it’s perfectly normal to find this period challenging. And it’s also normal – and healthy – to want to embrace the other roles you have in your life.

Finding your groove will take time, but we’re here to support you and help you find it.

How To Find Balance In Your New Role As A Parent

Everything changes when you become a parent. Your new responsibilities may leave you feeling overwhelmed and exhausted, as if you have no time for yourself anymore.

It’s important to re-evaluate your routine so that you can find inner peace and balance. There will certainly be days and nights where you feel like you can’t do it all, but in time you can establish a life that gives you enough time for yourself and your baby.

Follow these steps to create balance as a new parent.

Embrace minimalism

Our homes often begin to feel cluttered and chaotic once kids enter the picture. Tidy rooms become filled with toys, kitchen sinks and laundry hampers get fuller much faster than they used to … while it might be a while before you achieve a level of tidiness that existed before you had kids, you can avoid unnecessary clutter by embracing a minimalist lifestyle.

Having fewer things in your home means having fewer things to tidy, leaving you more time and energy for more fulfilling activities. Despite what other parents or the media might tell you, your baby can absolutely be happy with less. Avoid clutter by only holding onto things that you love, need, or adds value to your home. Free your home of unnecessary objects and distractions so that you can focus on what matters.

Establish a routine (to the best of your ability)

It may not sound exciting, but planning out your day will help maximize productivity so that you can stay on top of childcare and housework tasks and hopefully find free time for yourself as well. Adopting a ‘clean as you go’ technique will make housework easier, since you won’t be left with big mess to deal with at the end of the day.

Find time for yourself, even if it’s only a few minutes

The younger your child is, the more difficult this may be, but it’s so important for your mental health. Taking time for yourself could be as simple as reading a book for a few minutes while your baby is napping. Try to find a way do to the things you love as often as possible so you don’t lose sight of your individuality. Don’t be afraid to ask for outside help – ie. getting a babysitter to look after your child so you can take the afternoon off. You should never feel guilty about replenishing your cup to become a better parent.

Remember that simple is often best. You don’t need to over-complicate things by always investing in the latest tools and gadgets – just find a way to get the necessary things done. This will leave you with more time and energy to do the things you love.