If you’re like every other new mother out there, you’ve been up in the middle of the night to feed your baby and find that, even though your baby’s belly is full and she’s fallen fast asleep, you’re wide awake. Rather than go back to bed and toss and turn for the next several hours, here are some things you can do to help pass the time and maybe even accomplish something productive:
- Work on a hobby. Knitting circles may not be what they once were, but they are starting to come back in vogue. Maybe it’s not knitting for you, though. Maybe it’s crafting, baking, blogging or even writing. Whatever it is you like to do in your free time, see if you can’t figure out a way to do it at night.
- Pick up a book. For some parents, those first few weeks after their baby is born is a great time to catch up on all of those books they’ve been meaning to read. Next time you’re at your local bookstore, pick up something that looks interesting and set it aside specifically for nighttime reading when you’re up with your baby.
- Learn something new. Maybe you’ve been wanting to take an e-course in graphic design, or maybe you’re interested in becoming a better amateur photographer. Nighttime is a great time to learn something new. You might even consider in enrolling in an online course through your local university or community college, as you can do a lot of the work at any time of day or night.
- Write a letter. This is a great time to catch up with an old friend. Consider breaking out the pen and paper, dust off your envelopes and write an old-fashioned letter. While e-mail is certainly more convenient and accessible, a hand-written letter gets a lot more attention, and your friend is sure to appreciate that you took the time to write it.
- Make some plans. It’s never too early to start figuring out some goals for your child. For example, maybe you’d like to have a certain amount of money saved up for college by the time he graduates high school. Spend some time making realistic and achievable goals.