Picture this - you’ve just put your baby down for a nap, and you have all of these intentions to use your free-time wisely. You've got a to-do list as long as your arm, and you know you need to make the most of having time to yourself.
Your little one has finally fallen asleep… and yet, you spend your precious free-time scrolling aimlessly through social media. Before you know it, your baby is awake again, and you haven’t done any of the things you wanted to do without a tiny human clinging to your side.
If this is you, don’t feel bad - we’ve all been there!
It happens to us constantly. We’ve lost count of the amount of times we’ve gone on our phones ‘just to have a little look’. That innocent ‘little look’ leads to us then falling down an Internet black hole, whether it be scrolling through the Facebook accounts of people we haven’t seen in years, or watching cute videos of puppies on Instagram.
It’s an annoying pattern to be stuck in, and sometimes, it’s hard to find the motivation to break it. However, nap time isn’t just important for your baby - it’s important for you, too.
If you need a little help with organising your naptime plans, then have a read through our top 5 ideas of things to do while your little one is asleep:
1. Take a nap yourself
This may sound contradictory to the idea of productivity, but it truly isn’t! The old wives’ tale of ‘you should be napping when your baby is napping’ exists for a reason. Being a mother to a newborn can be difficult, and your lack of sleep can often make everything tougher on yourself. Napping at the same time as your baby - even if it is just for a brief 15 minutes - will do you the world of good, and will help you to feel more energised in time for your baby’s awakening.
2. Cook a meal
Remembering to eat when you’re a new mum can be tricky - you’re so consumed by your baby’s wants and needs, that it can be easy to neglect your own and skip meals. Don’t let yourself fall into this trap! While your baby naps, indulge by cooking yourself some delicious food. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy, so long as you’re eating a proper meal and getting the fuel you need to power through the rest of the day.
3. Spend time with others
Sometimes, when you have a newborn, it can be difficult to find quality time to spend with others. The constant needs of your baby can lead to mothers feeling isolated and alone. If this is the case for you, then perhaps consider using your newborn’s naptime as your dedicated daily slot to catching up with your loved ones. Whether it be your partner, your other children, or even your friends, it is always a good idea to devote your free time to some social interactions. Trust us, it will make you feel less alone.
4. Get the chores done
We hate to say it, but it’s an important option to consider! We all know how quickly our list of house chores can pile up, especially amongst the chaos of newborn life. Between cleaning the bathrooms, washing clothes, loading the dishwasher or hoovering the house, there is always a never-ending cycle of tasks to get done. Naptime is the perfect opportunity to cross one or two of these things off your to-do list. You’ll never regret it, and future you will thank you for it!
5. Treat yourself
We couldn’t compose this list without suggesting some me-time! At the end of the day, your baby’s naptime should always be about taking care of yourself. Why not treat yourself to a lovely bubble bath, or cosy up on the sofa with that new TV show that you’ve been dying to watch? You could also start reading a new book, paint your nails, or reward yourself with some online shopping. Whatever you decide to do, it’s important to remember to look after yourself. Sit back and relax!
