Over the past several years, I’ve come to understand how extremely valuable it is to care for not only my physical health but also my mental health. I’m a big believer in how small, daily actions can add up and make a meaningful difference over time. From committing to a plant-based vegan diet and regular exercise to therapy and daily meditation, I’ve worked hard to discover what works best for me personally.
So, when it came to my pregnancy — a whole new chapter and an unfamiliar experience — I was eager to discover what would work best for me. (Maybe some of these tips will work well during your pregnancy… or even just everyday life… too!)
8 Ways to Prioritize Mental Health During Pregnancy
- Have a consistent schedule. Having a consistent schedule has always been really helpful for me — even pre-pregnancy. Our business hours at With Grace and Gold are Monday – Thursday from 7 AM – 3 PM, so I’ll begin each business day with a Peloton workout, an Expectful meditation, and a healthy breakfast — and end each day with dinner, any housekeeping — like sorting mail, scheduling appointments, or getting organized — and then some much-needed rest with my pregnancy pillow. Having a routine helps me to rest assured I accomplished everything I needed to, which makes resting easier for me to do.
- Get ready in the morning. Taking a shower, getting dressed, drying my hair, and putting on makeup always helps me to feel my best. Because I work from home, it’s very easy and very tempting to stay in my workout clothes (Here is my go-to top and bottom!) rather than get ready. However, I’ve noticed when I do get completely ready in the morning, I feel more peace of mind, I feel better prepared for the day, and I feel more confidence overall.
- Exercise daily. Exercise has made all the difference when it comes to both my mental and physical health. We purchased a Peloton in 2020, and I have really appreciated its convenience. Peloton instructors are also really encouraging and motivating, so Peloton classes have been a great way for me to begin each day.
- Eat healthy foods. Healthy eating has been harder to do than expected, because so few foods sound appetizing for me. Foods like clementines, apples, and pickles have been staples for months now, but I’ve also been enjoying chickpea pasta, and other plant-based foods. Lately, my go-to smoothie has consisted of unsweetened almond milk, ground flaxseed, unsweetened dried prunes or dates, walnuts, frozen mixed berries, banana, and a handful of baby kale.
- Get a change of scenery. On Fridays, Ben and I will go to one of our favorite coffee shops to review the week and make fun plans for the weekend ahead. Getting a change of scenery after the work week is always so much fun, and helps to boost morale if I’ve had a busy week.
- Use the Expectful meditation app. The Expectful app offers daily meditations and classes to help people manage their stress and find peace of mind during pregnancy. In early pregnancy, I really loved how the meditations helped me to feel connected with our baby, even when our baby was so tiny. Now, I love how the meditations help ease stress. The app is really beautiful and easy to use, and I really appreciate having a small, actionable way to find calm and connection during pregnancy.
- Have or create a good support system. From my husband and my best friends to my sisters and our family, I really value having a variety of people to talk to and have strong, positive relationships with. Whether we talk about pregnancy, or we simply spend quality time together, I really value having a strong and positive support system while journeying through a new and exciting, yet unfamiliar, chapter.
- Avoid certain parts of social media. There is so much to think about and decide upon — from pregnancy best practices to birth plans to parenting and every detail in between. Through reading books, downloading apps, and conversing with friends and family, I’ve been able to gain a deeper understanding of what is meaningful to me in pregnancy and parenting. I’ve tried to focus on personal connections and resources I feel connected to, rather than being scared or overwhelmed by certain birth or parenting experiences people share about on social media.
More Motherhood Posts
I’m sharing more about our journey in my Motherhood category. There, I’m gathering up my favorite resources and documenting pregnancy week by week!
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