Life is pretty hard for everyone right now. You are definitely not alone. If you are a new mom, life is even tougher. That bouncing bundle of joy did not make the pandemic go away. Now that you have a baby to protect, the pandemic is a bigger problem than ever. You can live with the shifting winds of political unrest. But suddenly, it matters so much more because you wonder what kind of world your baby will inherit. When you have a baby on board, everything is a lot bigger, every threat, more dangerous, every issue, more pressing.

The way to get through any crisis is to take care of your own needs. This is not a license for neglectful selfishness. You cannot grant yourself permission to neglect those in your care. It is just that you are one of the people in your care. If you don’t take care of yourself, you will not be able to take care of anyone else. Your little one relies on you for everything. You have to be at your best for her. One way to do that is by pampering yourself with the little things. Here are a few that make the task of being a new mom just a little less stressful:

Get the Best Nutritional Boosters You Can Find

Between nursing and eating poorly, early motherhood takes a lot out of you. The good news is there are plenty of nutritional boosters that can help. A good lactation protein powder can do a lot more for you than you think. It can increase your milk production as well as give you back much of the energy you lose over the course of a day. With many flavors from which to choose, you can take care of yourself with no more effort than it takes to have a tasty snack.

You can also find supplements for brain performance. When you are running around all day with your head spinning like a ballerina, it is hard to think clearly. The right supplements can help. You can also eat more of the superfoods known to boost brain power. You probably already have some of those items in your kitchen right now. Walnuts, berries, broccoli, and even coffee can prove useful. If you prefer, you can make brain-boosting smoothies. The thing to remember is that being a new mom takes a lot out of you. Be sure to put it back in with supplements and healthy food.

Small Luxuries

An Apple Watch can save your life. But so can a lot of things. So one can hardly say that an Apple Watch is a necessity. It’s not. The Apple Watch is a luxury. Here’s the thing: There is nothing wrong with enjoying a few of life’s luxuries, especially when so much of your time is spent taking care of others. So don’t feel bad about grabbing one of the Apple Watch leather bands that look and feel oh, so nice.

Small luxuries don’t have to break the budget. They just have to put a smile on your face at a time when you can use one the most. You don’t have to buy a new smartphone. You can buy a new smartphone case that brightens it up and gives it a touch of whimsy. Be good to yourself. It will help you be good to others

A Day Off

There comes a time when the thing you enjoy doing the most feels a lot like work. Raising a child feels a lot like a job with no breaks. You never get to clock out or take a vacation day. However, that is not a healthy way to parent. Yes, raising your child is extremely important, but so is your paying job, and your marriage, and your hobbies, and your relationship with other people. Every now and then, call your mom. Call a friend. Call a daycare service. Do whatever responsible thing it takes to occasionally get a day off. You will be a better parent for it.

It is not about getting out of parenting responsibilities. It is a reminder that your identity is made up of more than time with your child. If you want to be the best mother you can be, take supplements that give back what you lose everyday. Treat yourself to small luxuries. And from time to time, take a day off.