Juggling a new baby and a full time career is never easy. Many parents have to tackle this careful balancing act, but you’re not alone. For all the moments that you want to fall to pieces, there are even more moments of pure joy with your baby that make the struggles worth it.
Still, it would be nice if things were a little easier. Whether you’re working in an office or at home, we’re here to help with some tips to keep you organized and on track so that you can
stay productive and sane with a newborn around.
Work While Baby Naps
If you’re working from home, take advantage of the times when your baby is asleep! These are the precious hours of peace and quiet when you can actually focus and get the most done. Leave your most challenging work to these periods and try to put away all distractions, like phones during this time. Once your baby wakes up, set them up in a baby swing or rocking bassinet next to your desk that will keep them calm while you finish working.
Make Mornings Easier
During this newborn stage, it’s going to make your life a lot easier if you have a consistent morning routine with the baby. We recommend waking up at the same time every day before the baby gets up and using that time to do chores, exercise, etc. Simplify your mornings by prepping things like breakfast and clothing the night before. This will allow you to eliminate a lot of the last-minute stress that comes with making decisions when you’re not fully awake. Be sure to always have a backup plan in case your childcare for the day falls through.
Use a Family Calendar
There are a lot of moving parts when you have a family. Between your work, your partner’s work, your child’s daycare and school, social activities, doctor’s appointments, and exercise classes, there is an endless amount of things you need to keep track of. It can be helpful to buy a really large wall calendar where you can write down everyone’s schedule and events. You can even color code events for each person so that you always know who is doing what at any given time. If you find that you are doing more with your kids or taking on more household duties than your spouse, you can make the adjustment to share responsibilities more evenly.
Set Up Childcare
No one should have to raise a baby alone. When you have a full-time job, it’s nearly impossible. It’s always good to ask your partner and family members to share the load, but when they also have busy schedules, a better solution is to go ahead and hire a babysitter or nanny to help. Even if they just come for a few hours in the afternoon to watch the baby, it can make your life a lot easier. It’s best to go ahead and find childcare that you trust before the baby arrives to make sure that all your ducks are in a row.
Make Time for Yourself
You have a lot on your shoulders at the moment, but that doesn’t mean you should neglect to do things that you love. It’s important that you make time to do a hobby or activity you enjoy every day. Whether that is going for a run in the mornings or cooking at night, spend at least thirty minutes of “you” time where you aren’t disturbed by others. This will help you stay calm during this crazy period.
