The first few weeks with a newborn can be a blur of feeding, burping, changing nappies and trying to catch up on sleep. Nobody really prepares you for how little time you will have to yourself after having a baby. But there is nothing wrong with wanting a little time for yourself, too.

Here are five simple things that can actually fit into life with a newborn.

Go for a short walk

You do not need to wait until you are ready for a full workout to get moving. Once you have been advised that gentle activity is appropriate for you, a short walk can be an easy way to get out of the house.

It could be a slow walk around the garden, neighbourhood or simply a few minutes outside with the baby. You do not have to count steps or turn it into an exercise session.

Walking can also give you a change of scenery after spending hours indoors. The NHS recommends gentle exercise such as walking after childbirth when a woman feels ready, while noting that recovery can take longer after a caesarean or a more complicated delivery.

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The important part is to listen to your body. If you are still recovering, sore or unusually tired, rest instead.

Put on your favourite music or podcast

There is something surprisingly comforting about listening to anything that has nothing to do with nappies, feeding schedules or baby sleep.

Put on a favourite playlist while you are feeding the baby, making breakfast or folding tiny clothes.

Listen to a podcast you used to enjoy, start an audiobook or play a few songs that instantly lift your mood. It does not have to be productive. You do not need to listen to a parenting podcast or an audiobook about personal growth. Sometimes, a silly comedy show or an old playlist is exactly what you need.

It is a reminder that you still have your own interests, opinions and things you enjoy outside motherhood.

Make time to see or speak to someone you like

New motherhood can become surprisingly isolating. Even when the house is full of people, the mother can spend much of the day focused on the baby.

Make an effort to stay connected to people who make you feel comfortable. Call a friend while the baby is sleeping. Ask someone to come over for tea. Meet a friend for coffee if you feel ready to go out. Join a parent-and-baby group if that feels more comfortable.

The NHS recommends seeing friends or attending postnatal groups and talking to people about your feelings as part of looking after mental health after having a baby.

You also do not have to make every conversation about the baby. Talk about a new film, office gossip, books, fashion or whatever you used to discuss before becoming a mother.

Also Read: What if everything you've heard about breastfeeding isn't true? 

Sometimes, being reminded that you are still you can be its own form of self-care.

Take 20 minutes that are genuinely yours

A shower should not have to be squeezed between two feeds. Neither should getting dressed, washing your hair or sitting down with a cup of tea.

If you have a partner, family member or another trusted person who can safely take care of the baby, ask them to take over for a short while.

Use those 20 or 30 minutes however you want. Take a proper shower. Apply your skincare. Sit on the balcony. Read a few pages of a book. Watch an episode of something. Have your coffee in peace.

It does not have to look impressive to count as self-care. Asking someone else to handle the baby while you rest is also not failing to cope. The NHS encourages new parents to accept help from friends, family or partners, particularly when they are tired and overwhelmed.

Keep one thing in your day that has nothing to do with the baby

After becoming a mother, it is easy for the entire day to revolve around the baby. That is understandable, especially in the beginning, but it is also okay to hold on to small parts of your old routine.

Maybe you love reading. Keep a book beside the bed and read two pages when you get the chance. If you enjoy cooking, make something simple when you have help. If you like films, watch one when the baby is asleep. If music is your thing, put on your favourite album. If you simply enjoy sitting quietly with a cup of chai, do that.

There is no rule saying every spare minute has to be spent catching up on chores.

In fact, the idea of postnatal wellbeing goes beyond physical recovery. WHO describes positive postnatal care as supporting women's physical, psychological, social and emotional wellbeing, alongside care for the baby.

Self-care does not have to become another task

New mothers are often given plenty of advice about what they should be doing for their babies. They are told what to feed them, how to put them to sleep and how to keep them comfortable. But the mother needs looking after too.

Also Read: How to burp a baby correctly: Different positions every new parent should know

Self-care during this stage does not have to involve expensive products, elaborate routines or finding hours of uninterrupted free time. It can be a 20 quiet minutes while somebody else holds the baby. And if some days all you manage is a shower and a hot meal, that counts too.

The goal is not to become the perfectly balanced new mother. It is simply to make sure that while you are caring for your baby, you are not forgetting to care for yourself.

(Disclaimer: This article is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for personalised medical advice.)