How to Be A Productive New Parent

Being a new mum is a mix of the most wonderful and the most overwhelming experience of your life so far. There is nothing that can prepare you for it. Adding to the mix studying or work life and organising your (and your baby's) schedule can seem impossible. My daughter is six months old and two months ago I went back to study. I am certainly no expert but here are a few tips that I have found make my life that little bit more productive when balancing studying with my new family life...


1. Be Organised Way More than You Were Before...

...and I mean WAY more if you were anything like me pre-baby. If you have something to do for work or for university, my advice would be to start working on it much earlier than you did before. I will admit I was the student who left everything much later than I should have but it worked for me because I didn't have a nappy to change or a bottle to make when I just started working. Make sure you have everything ready the night before. This doesn't just mean organise your baby's bag and an outfit for him/her to wear. Make sure everything you need to get yourself ready for the morning is laid out in an organised way as well. It's amazing how much time you save by even laying out your make up in the order you put it on (on the days you can manage more than just a bit of concealer and mascara in the car). 

2. Babies are unpredictable...                                   

...sometimes you just can't predict what is going to happen next. Whether they are sick as you are going out the door to drop them at daycare or they get a temperature the week before a big assignment is due, you have to factor in the unexpected when planning your time. They might have problems like colic or reflux in the first months that need extra attention. This is why it is doubly important for you to start that assignment or work project as soon as you can. Work around your babies schedule, not the other way around. When your baby is asleep, try to do some of your work that's due (coffee is your new best friend) If you find you're too distracted using this time to flip through the apps on your phone then Erin has ways to motivate you to reduce the time you spend on your phone here.

3. Try a routine...

...if you're reading this and you've tried everything to get your baby into a routine, I apologise. There is nothing worse as a new mum than advice telling you to do what seems impossible. The one I keep hearing is the importance of "me time" which to me seems impossible just now with my assignments due and a teething baby on my hands! 

If you haven't tried it yet though, make sure your baby knows the difference between night and day by keeping the washing machine or the TV on and keeping it light during the day even when they are asleep. Now that we are coming into Spring and Summer a great investment is a blackout blind for the room your baby sleeps in at night to keep it dark on these longer days. Also try to have the same bedtime routine most nights. The advice I got from the nurses in the hospital was not to give my baby a bath every day so try just giving them a little wash with a damp cloth or cotton wool on the nights it isn't time for a bath. Then change them into their pyjamas and sleeping bag (if they are using one) and have the last bottle with the lights dimmed so they know it's time for bed. You could also try reading them a book before their last bottle but I have found at six months old this only annoys my daughter when she's tired! 


4. Let your baby motivate you... 

...On those days where you feel like giving up on studying or feel its impossible to balance work life and family let your baby be your motivation. Look at that little face smiling at you and know that you aren't just doing it for yourself anymore. If you are a student then know that this isn't forever and picture that day when you get handed that certificate. It will all feel so much more worth it when you know you did it with a baby to look after. 

Make sure even in the chaos of it all that you enjoy the little moments with your baby because these are the moments that will get you through. These are the moments that really matter and when your studying is over these are the times you will cherish. On your days off try spending time with your baby and loved ones. It's amazing how much stress is relieved by being outside for a walk with your little one. You can find a list of the best parks in Glasgow here.


5.Don't be too hard on yourself!!! 

We are new mums and we are new to this parenting thing. That is hard enough without the added pressure of studying or working. It's ok to feel a little bit overwhelmed at times. I have found that very rarely do people admit they are having a hard day as a new mum and that really frustrates me! Don't believe the mummy instagram or facebook posts with the lovely beautiful corner of the house and the picture perfect baby smiling away with a lovely perfect outfit on and a bow on their head. Chances are the rest of the house is a mess, the picture perfect baby spits all over that lovely outfit seconds after the photo or has ripped the bow off their head for the last 20 photos. You are not alone. We all have good days and not so good days so don't feel pressured by everyone else's modified version of their lives! Do what works for you!  Ali on the Run is a really relatable instagram account to follow for new mums so start following her and stop following the accounts that make you feel bad. We have enough on our plate without adding more!


So what are you waiting for? Go and channel your inner Elle Woods (had to get in a Legally Blonde reference in this blog post too) and picture that feeling of "We did it" at the end of the movie, knowing you did it all for your family. It will all be worth it, I promise!