Parenthood will alter your life in more ways than you’ll truly comprehend until it happens. However, there are some lifestyle changes you can be sure of, and it’s important to factor these into your decision to have children. Being responsible for a child is a full-time commitment to which you’ll devote attention, time, and energy.

Let’s look at some lifestyle changes you’ll need to consider:

Sleeping: Your sleep cycle will be disrupted, and the amount of rest you get will vary significantly in the first months of parenthood. Newborns can wake up every few hours, and your own circadian rhythms won’t be what they were pre-pregnancy for some time.

Staying fit: Exercise is important for overall health, but your regular gym or other regimen will likely have to change when your baby arrives. Start thinking about how you might adapt, such as trying baby yoga or going for walks with your baby.

Diet: Your eating habits may have to change to accommodate new time and budget constraints. Dining out may become a thing of the past. It’s important for the whole family to eat healthily, and the menu at home will likely need to be adapted for child-friendly fare.

Scheduling: If you struggle with sticking to an itinerary as a childless couple, remember that having a baby means getting more organised. Essential tasks may need to be planned around self-care and family time to keep everyone happy.

Social Life: You may have heard your older siblings complain about losing their social life when they became parents. This is a part of your calendar that suffers when babies arrive. Sleep and feeding schedules just don’t work with nights out, and even dates with your partner might have to be postponed until your child is a little older.

Career: Is work-life balance possible? Well, the answer probably depends on your job and how much help you have at home, but it is important to find some kind of arrangement that works for your family. This may include one parent working part-time, changing your career goals, and even leaning on grandparents if they live nearby.

Here are some other ideas that may help make adapting to parental life easier:

Commit to routines: Routines can make life run more smoothly and predictably, so try implementing them at the more stressful times of the day. Mealtimes, bedtime, and getting ready to leave in the morning are good places to start.

Build a support system. Where are your people? Much as we’d like to be able to handle everything else, you’ll likely feel a huge sense of relief when your parents or siblings say they can babysit while you get some work done.

Stay flexible: Your mum may have kept every appointment, but with WhatsApp groups and other technology in our pocket, schools and parents change plans quickly and constantly. You’ll need to learn to expect the unexpected, which is tough if you’re the type of person who likes to control every detail.

Prioritise self-care: We at Unii believe that part of being a good parent is maintaining the personal well-being to cope. It is important to make time for self-care, even if it’s simply meditation or watching your favourite reality television show.

Compare notes: Communicating constantly can benefit your relationships and personal psychology. Keep talking to your partner and family.

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