Tyler is almost 10 and I still never know what day it is!
I get this questions a lot and the short answer is YES, but you may have to modify it slightly and pretty please LISTEN TO YOUR BODY! If you have a baby that is not yet sleeping through the night, I cannot in good conscious encourage you to get up any earlier than you have to. At this stage of the game, you need all the sleep you can get and more than likely you are sleep deprived. Our bodies need sleep. Overnight, bits and pieces of information are transferred from more tentative, short-term memory to stronger, long-term memory in a process called "consolidation." This is one reason why many new moms can’t seem to remember things- commonly referred to a “Mommy Brain.” It’s a real thing and caused by sleep depravation and also physical changes to your brain that accompany parenthood. So, as much as you can, get the rest your body needs.
The good news about babies is that they sleep a lot, so one strategy new moms can adopt is to do your Miracle Morning during your baby’s first nap of the day. This may be a little later than before you had the baby, but I think the power of the S.A.V.E.R.S. is in practicing them and not to be so hung up on what time of day. You may have to shorten your practice during this stage of parenthood and that’s okay (I promise they will sleep through the night eventually). Babies grow up so quickly, so savor the time with your little bundle of joy.
Another strategy is to break up your S.A.V.E.R.S. throughout the day. My son, Tyler, really only took cat naps when he was a baby, so when he slept I would take that time to do a mini workout, catch up on some reading or write in my journal. My friends Natalie Sager and Lindsay Ambrose have written a wonderful book for new moms called Peaceful Mama: The Mind, Body and Baby Connection: The Manifesto of Conscious Motherhood. They talk about creating “MAMAHH Moments” throughout the day to become more centered and present. I highly recommend this book for new mommas :)
I love how this dad chooses to calm down his baby with the sound of OM :)
A third option is to do your S.A.V.E.R.S. while feeding the baby. Tyler was an easily distracted while nursing, so I was often away from others in a quiet room. This is the perfect environment for many of the S.A.V.E.R.S. You can meditate, visualize, listen to affirmations on ThinkUp App, listen to an audiobook and even do a little scribing with the help of the 5 Minute Journal App all while nursing a baby. I’ll admit, it’s not easy, but it can be done. I love this article about tips for meditating with a baby. The only thing you can’t really do while nursing is exercise, but you burn up to 500 calories a day while nursing so it’s kind of like working out :)
As a former college athlete, I had a really hard time slowing down after my C-Section with Tyler, but it was necessary. If your doctor says to take a break for 6 weeks, do yourself a favor and listen. I tried to start back too soon and set myself back even longer. Here are some ideas for exercising with a baby:
Take baby for a walk in a carrier or stroller. If you have a jogging stroller (and you’ve been cleared by your doctor) you can go out for a run.
Google “Workout with Baby at Home” and many relevant YouTube videos will be at your fingertips and most require no equipment except your baby :)
Join a post-natal yoga class. This is a great way to get some gentle exercise and meet some other local new mommas.
Many gyms offer childcare. Take advantage of it! Drop the baby with their lovely staff and hit your favorite workout class or weight room. Some do have age limits, so be sure to check with them beforehand :) At my gym it was 6 weeks old (which was perfect since I wasn’t allowed to workout until then anyway).
I’d love to hear what your tips and tricks are for getting your S.A.V.E.R.S. in with a baby around. If you haven’t already, please join the conversation in our Facebook Community. I’m grateful for all the ambitious parents out there wanting to stick with or start a Miracle Morning practice with a baby in the mix, you all inspire me so much. I’m grateful my kids got an early start having their own morning ritual and that it will hopefully serve them well in their lives. I’m grateful for Lindsay and Natalie, their friendship and for their courage to share their stories in Peaceful Mama.
In Gratitude,
Lindsay