New mothers have their jobs cut out for them. Once the baby comes, many new moms lose themselves in their new roles. They stop doing things they used to and stop seeing people they used to. They also stop eating what they want and sleeping when they want, their whole lives start revolving around the newborn.
For many women, the new role as a mom can be overwhelming, so much so that they start losing the sense of who they are. And while postpartum identity loss is nothing uncommon, dealing with it and learning how to prioritize yourself again, can be difficult.
Let’s see how you can better navigate the identity loss and find ways to discover yourself after having a baby.
The causes of postpartum identity loss
Some of the most common causes of postpartum identity loss include having very little time for yourself, having no time for hobbies or friends, and feeling insecure about different things such as your body, career, and so on.
These and many other things can lead to parents, mothers especially, feeling sad, insecure, guilty, ashamed, and even depressed in some extreme cases.
Thankfully, there are things you can do to recover your identity postpartum.
How to rediscover yourself again
Many new parents experience an identity loss after having the baby. And that’s nothing to be ashamed of. Wanting to rediscover yourself again doesn’t make you a bad parent.
In fact, rediscovering yourself will help you be a better parent. So, let’s see what you can do to rediscover yourself post-baby.
Reconnect with your partner
With so much on their plates, new parents often put their own relationship at the very bottom of the priority list. But craving some alone time with your partner is not a bad thing. Quite the contrary, it’s a healthy thing, and you should find ways to be alone and reconnect with your partner.
One of the best ways to rediscover yourself is by rekindling the connection with your life partner. Start doing date nights again and don’t feel guilty about it. You need it.
Reconnect with friends and family
Similarly, you should also find ways to reconnect with friends and family. Once the baby comes, you will lose touch with some people. This is normal because now your priorities are different, you have other responsibilities and not enough time to hang out.
But having different priorities doesn’t mean that you can’t send a text to your friends to see how they’re doing. It doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t invite your family over.
Always make time to be around friends and family. Their presence and support can help you rediscover yourself again.
Self-care is essential
Becoming a parent doesn’t automatically mean that you don’t matter anymore. Parenthood is just another role you assume in life. However, for parents, especially new parents, it can be easy to forget their sense of self-worth. Losing a sense of self-worth can lead to many mental issues. So, don’t let that happen to you.
Instead, concentrate on self-care. And self-care is taking longer showers, putting on makeup, going for a walk, sleeping in, and so on.
Find different ways to be active to move your body. Do small things that make you happy. For example, when the baby is sleeping, go online and buy yourself something. Look for online wholesale clothing in Brisbane, and buy some clothing pieces if that will make you happy. Sometimes a bit of retail therapy can do a lot.
Take up a hobby or start something new
Hobbies are an important part of our lives as they provide a sense of accomplishment and happiness in our lives. They can also reduce stress. Losing a hobby you love can contribute to the loss of identity you feel when the baby comes.
That’s why taking up a hobby is an important thing to do on your journey to rediscovering yourself. You can take up an old hobby or find a new one, this is up to you.
However, having some sort of creative outlet is important even after the baby comes. Even 10 to 15 minutes of doing something you love can help you feel like yourself again.
Meditate and practice mindfulness
Meditation has numerous physical, mental, and emotional benefits. Meditating can help you reduce stress, improve memory and sleep, decrease blood pressure, and boost your immune system, among other things.
Through meditation, you can slowly reintroduce harmony, laughter, and love into your inner being. Meditation can also help you rediscover yourself.
Meditation and mindfulness can also help you become more patient and compassionate. Engaging in mindfulness practices and meditation can contribute to fostering a sense of compassion towards yourself, your partner, and your children.
When the time comes, go back to work
Going back to your career is yet another great way to regain your sense of self. Going back to work with a newborn will be difficult, but you don’t have to work full-time right away.
Today, you have options to work from home or work part-time. Returning to work is a personal choice, but for many parents going back to their career was a great way to start feeling like themselves again. It’s up to you really.
Bottom Line
Becoming a parent can be an overwhelming experience. For every one of us, this postpartum period is very different. Some parents figure it out pretty quickly, and others struggle for a long while.
The important thing to know is that you’re not the only one who struggles with identity loss. And as you can see, there are ways to rediscover yourself again.