5 Things That Saved My Sanity as a New Mom
The first few weeks after having a baby are a blur. Beautiful, emotional, exhausting, disorienting, and tender all at once.
Nothing really prepares you for how much your world shifts overnight. Your body is healing, your hormones are recalibrating, sleep becomes fragmented, and suddenly your days revolve around caring for a tiny human who depends on you for everything.
In the midst of all that, I found myself craving small anchors. Simple routines and comforts that helped me feel a little more like myself again while I learned how to care for my baby.
Here are five things that truly saved my sanity during my early postpartum weeks.
1. Fresh pajamas for fresh starts
Postpartum sweats are very real, especially in those early weeks. Between night feeds, leaking, and temperature changes, I quickly realized how much better I felt when I changed into clean pajamas each night.
I stocked up on soft, breathable nightdresses and matching shorts sets that felt comfortable but still put together. It seems small, but slipping into fresh pajamas became a mental reset. A signal that even if the night was long, I was still caring for myself.
Sometimes comfort is the difference between feeling depleted and feeling held.
2. Daily showers and skincare as a reset ritual
In the early days, a daily shower became my anchor. Even on very little sleep.
I treated myself to new Korean skincare and made the effort to moisturize my body with oils and lotions afterward. It wasn’t about vanity. It was about grounding myself back into my body.
That short window of warmth and quiet helped me feel human again. Like I could face whatever the day brought, even if it was messy and unpredictable.
3. A comfort watch for feeding sessions
Feeding sessions can feel endless in the newborn phase, especially overnight. Instead of scrolling aimlessly, I intentionally chose a comfort watch to look forward to.
For me, it was the Yellowstone prequels, 1883 and 1923. Something immersive, familiar, and easy to follow. It turned long feeds into small pockets of rest and enjoyment.
This simple choice helped feeding feel less draining and more like a pause in the day rather than another task.
4. Lowering expectations and simplifying my days
One of the biggest shifts I made postpartum was letting go of unrealistic expectations. I stopped trying to “bounce back” or keep up with productivity.
Some days, the goal was simply to feed the baby, eat something nourishing, and rest when possible. I learned that slowing down wasn’t a failure; it was necessary.
Giving myself permission to do less created space for healing, presence, and patience.
5. Small rituals that brought me back to myself
Tiny rituals carried me through.
Lighting a candle in the afternoon.
Sitting by a window with a warm drink.
Writing a few lines in a journal.
These moments reminded me that even in a season of constant giving, I was still allowed to receive comfort. Postpartum is not the time for reinvention. It’s a time for gentleness.
A gentle reminder for new moms
Postpartum is a season of massive transition. You don’t need grand routines or perfect systems to survive it. Small rituals can make a big difference in your mental health, emotional wellbeing, and sense of self.
If you’re in the early weeks or months after having a baby, know this: you’re not doing it wrong if things feel hard. You’re learning, adjusting, and becoming someone new.
And that deserves patience.
If you’d like to watch the full video version of this reflection, you can find it on my YouTube channel, where I share slow living, motherhood, and seasonal lifestyle content.
You’re not alone in this season 🤍
