The New Parent Survival Guide

Becoming a parent can be exciting, overwhelming and stressful, but you can learn to handle the pressures that come with infant care and balance life accordingly, says Kayalvizhi Arivalan

- Kayalvizhi Arivalan

Your priorities change after the birth of your child. That is but natural, and true not just for first-time parents, but parents with every child. Parenting is a different experience every time. Each child has their own innate quirks and mannerisms that define them as individuals and make them unique. It is parents who must reinvent themselves and their approach each time. This can be stressful as much as it can be fulfilling. Read on to find out how you can manage your energy and time as a parent.

Identify Priorities

Very often, as a new parent, you might feel you have no time or energy for the things you want to do. With work, family, a social life, a household to maintain, deadlines, projects and more jostling for attention, it is most important to figure out what your priorities are and focus on them. “Life became more chaotic and challenging when I had my son, but I was determined not to let go of my job,” says Mythili Krishnan, a content writer with a private firm. “It’s the reality of working moms that we can’t do it all, as much as we would like to. Instead, we must be practical and set priorities, and allocate time accordingly. With limited resources, we have to be extremely focused on the activities and areas of our lives that will fulfill us the most,” says Krishnan. Identifying your priorities and focusing on them can take so much off your plate, and make your life easier and more manageable.

Take Time Off