7 Healthy Habits to Find Ease & Joy in Motherhood

by Chelsea Becker

Joanie Simon for Unsplash

After having my son, it wasn’t the lack of sleep or the mercurial emotions that shocked me most. What stood out to me most of all was that even 5-6 months postpartum, I still wasn’t feeling close to “normal.” My body wasn’t the same, my moods weren’t the same, my energy wasn’t the same, and my soul wasn’t the same. I wasn’t dealing with postpartum depression or anxiety, but overall a lackluster approach to the old me—the old me who was easily motivated to work out and eat well. The old me who had the energy to work one-hour days and actually enjoyed it. The old me who felt strong physically and emotionally.

It was around the six-month mark that I saw Sarah Rueven, a registered dietitian with Rooted Wellness, a private nutrition counseling practice. I was eager to feel like myself and realized I wasn’t getting there on my own, so it was time for reinforcement.

What I learned from Rueven overall was that I was being way too hard on myself. She taught me, through our virtual meetings, that I was still so fresh as a new mom, and even as a mom of two herself, there was no “normal” way to be feeling. Hearing those words from a wellness professional was something I deeply needed. From that chat, she went on to coach me on important areas of holistic health postpartum—and beyond.

Healthy habits that work with motherhood

Fit health into your new life

As a routine-lover, I was missing my opportunity for the perfect part of my day for fitness. Whereas before, I always worked out at noon while I took a lunch break, that didn’t necessarily make the most sense for me now. Rueven encouraged me to head out to a class right after dropping my son at daycare and before starting the workday (I work from home). Instead of trying to stick to my old routine, I liked the idea of finding the pocket of the day when I’m already out and about (and somewhat dressed).

Don't be afraid of snacks

Rueven suggested my overall lack of energy was likely due to my diet. I was sometimes going 7-8 hours without eating anything during the day, as I tried to cram all things work in and often pushed back eating to get more done. She sent me a helpful handout of healthy snacks. Now, I set a timer on my phone for a snack around 3 p.m. each day, and I’ve noticed an overall surge in energy during the latter half of my day.

Reframe working out

Rueven stressed that working out should be more about getting comfortable in your body again, versus seeing physical results like hitting a pre-baby weight. I adored the thought of this and her wording has stuck with me.

Prenatal vitamins aren't created equal

The prenatal I had haphazardly grabbed from the grocery store wasn’t the best. In fact, Rueven explained that it was missing key nutrients. She recommended Thorne as an excellent choice for expecting mothers as well as postpartum. I’ve liked the switch.

It’s crucial to ‘find your joy’ each day

Even if that was 10 minutes of The Real Housewives or some CBD after bedtime, I appreciated Rueven’s realistic, non-judgmental approach to things that chilled me out and made me happy. She encouraged me to take 10 to 60 minutes each day and reserve it as time truly for me. I was not to clean the house or do my son’s laundry, and in fact, she suggested the idea of anti-productivity time. For this burnout new mom, that sounded like heaven. This is something I’m still working on, but I’ve definitely given myself more breaks to do me during the week.

Frozen ingredients are OK!

I talked through the stress of always having fresh diners and meals in our house and that it was exhausting even thinking about dinner most nights. Rueven catered ideas to my current lifestyle and what my husband and I like, and we now always have frozen spinach (for smoothies), frozen veggies (for stir-fry) and frozen meats in our freezer. Sounds simple, but I was always so against frozen produce as I thought it was less healthy. Rueven explained that frozen produce is just as healthy as fresh—as it is packed away at its height of freshness. Leaning on our freezer has made our nights a breeze when our fridge is running low—and it’s a much better option than takeout pizza twice a week like we had been doing.

Set small, realistic goals

We focused on a few for me specifically (meal prepping three meals a week on Sundays, working out 2-3 times a week, and finding my joy for at least 10 minutes a day). I really enjoyed having tangible but realistic takeaways that I still think about daily.

I could keep going, but the point is, there is so much to learn about postpartum wellness. And even years after childbirth, it’s OK to feel different from your pre-baby self. Prior to my meeting with Rueven, I thought my life would bounce back, and well, it definitely did not. It hit me hard and I missed the way I used to feel.

Each month, armed with these tools, I’m feeling more like me—but a new version of me. A me who has a son to take care of, but a me who feels good about that, and a me who is much easier on herself. That alone has been such a gift to my well-being!