ACCEPTANCE
Accepting, and being kind to yourself, about where you are in your life now
is important. Remind yourself that the baby phase is just that, a phase. Mutter
‘this too shall
pass’ when necessary. The more you obsess with getting sleep, the worse it will be. Accept a few hours here and there at the beginning is ok.
PAUSE BIG DECISIONS
Lack of sleep affects cognitive functioning. That means your concentration, memory and capacity for decision-making are all depleted. Just like when you are drunk, only there’s no chance of sleeping it off.
Would you make a life-changing decision after a Friday night bender? No you would not. Same rule applies - try to avoid very big decisions for the moment.
BE NICE, IF YOU CAN
Communication is still in your control however tired you are, strive to be nice. Whatever you feel like on the inside, the one thing you have control over is what you say. You will inevitably both say dreadful things in the fog
of tiredness so agree that
there is an amnesty in these first few months on insults, threats and sulking.
NIGHT TIME NOT SCREEN TIME
Screens omit a blue light which stimulates the brain to stay awake. Limiting your use of them in the evening can make it easier to fall asleep. You’ll just have to wait till morning to start googling ‘Why won't my baby sleep?’
10 tips for coping with sleep deprivation
Whilst lack of sleep is just something we all have to accept in those early baby phases, there are some things you can do to look after your mental health while sleep deprived.
EXERCISE
Whether its just a quick walk to a cafe or a buggy fit class, anything goes. The more you can get some fresh air and exercise, the better you will feel. You’ll still be tired, but at least not feeling isolated at home with the baby.
HYDRATE
Drink water, boring but true. Being dehydrated depletes your energy levels.