Top tips for time poor New Mums

As a Mum myself, I'm well acquainted with sleep deprivation. It has been an unwelcome guest in my house since I had my two children - and likes to visit all too frequently.

When you're pregnant with your first baby, you tend to hang on to that dream that if you nap enough in those last few weeks in the lead up to having bub then surely you'll have some credit up in the sleep bank you can use later on?  Right?!

Unfortunately, it doesn't work that way, and sleep deprivation can create a host of problems - including fatigue, lack of motivation and an increased susceptibility to illness and injury - to name a few. As hard as it may seem, the only way around it is to make time for yourself. That's right, as busy as you are with your newborn, try to schedule at least 30 minutes a day when you turn off your phone, put aside the dirty laundry, and hand the baby over to their Dad, a babysitter, or grandparent. Make your workouts non-negotiable. You wouldn't quit breathing just because you were too busy - right? Exercise my friends, is just as important.

Check out my top 4 tips for time-poor Mums (road tested and proven to provide relief from the effects of sleep deprivation by many of us out there!).

1. Take the short view. Babies are only babies for such a short time so go easy on yourself when getting back into exercise. You goal may simply be to leave the house that day - but do it! Even walking around the block with bub in the pram will make you feel better. 
2. Stick with easy-to-make meals. Prepare big batches of freezable casseroles and soups while you're pregnant and reap the benefits after you've had the baby. If not, there's always easy spaghetti bolognaise, chicken with rice and veg and tuna salads. You don't have to be a gourmet cook!
3. Schedule some down time. Even if it's just 10 minutes! To soothe sore muscles, take a bath or better yet, book in for a massage.  Or just put your feet up and read a few pages of a book.
4. Power nap when and where you can. When bub sleeps, join them! Even if you just set the alarm for 20 minutes, get comfortable and close your eyes. You'll get a second wind that will carry you through the rest of the day.

Have you got some great tips that have helped you? Please share them with us...