Almost 5 months into this thing and I can confidently say the #1 thing that has kept me sane during postpartum: my daily walks. Nothing can come between me and these walks. I like to go for an hour right when we get up because I feel like it sets the tone for my entire day. Walking gives me and the baby an opportunity to get into nature, breathe fresh air, get some sunlight on our faces, and the blood and energy in our bodies moving. The benefit of those things is many. I try to time our walks with the baby’s first nap of the day and it is my favorite time to catch up on my podcasts (mainly, Juicy Scoop).

My first walk was at about 1.5 weeks postpartum and it was to my mailbox and back. I gradually increased this walk over time and by 8 week was walking for an hour a day. ALWAYS consult with your doctor before starting exercise and listen to your body! Remember, I am not a medical expert, you and your care team are the only experts on you. And, as I like to say, postpartum is not one size fits all. What works for me might not work for you (and vice versa) and that’s okay! The most important thing you can do for yourself in your recovery is to tune in to how YOU are feeling and take it suuuper slow.

The benefits of walking postpartum: 

• Boosts your mood + energy
• Can reduce anxiety and depression
• Gets your blood moving – stagnant energy is the devil! 
• Reduces inflammation
• Gets you out of the house (!!!)
• Opportunity for ‘you’ time
• Strengthens your muscles
• Improves cardiovascular fitness
• Helps maintain + lose weight

Shop the products i love –

• UppaBaby Cruz Stroller: It’s embarrassing how much I love this stroller. It’s lightweight, easy to fold up & expand, and the MESA newborn car seat can click right onto it. UppaBaby brand is modern, functional, and aesthetically pleasing, along with being some of the safest products on the market. We got the green, but it comes in a few different colors. This stroller is also gorgeous. I laugh about how many compliments we get when we are out and about.
• Phone stroller attachment: Simple but effective. This was originally a random item I put onto our registry not knowing if it would be something I would enjoy using, but now I can’t live without it. It has a magnetic piece you throw on the back of your phone case and its so nice to have a place to put your phone. No digging through your bag for your phone when you need it or having baby sweat on it from resting it in the car seat. 😉
• PCA Skin SPF: When I first got pregnant my skin went NUTS (another post is coming soon dedicated to this bc my godddd) and I stopped using my sunscreen because I thought it was making my skin oily. Well, what a mistake that was because i got melasma pretty bad. Melasma is when brown patches appear on your skin due to hormonal changes in your body. So my esthetician recommended PCA Skin adn told me to start using it immediately. Much less oily than my previous moisturizer with SPF, so I was sold and still use it to this day! It is a sheer tint, SPF 45, and affordable.
• Sun Hat: Protect your skin!!! I wear this hat every day on our walks and in the garden. It has a super-wide brim that I love. It is not cute, I get it but it’s incredibly functional.
• Portable Sound Machine: Perfect for a fussy baby, a fussy moment, or when life becomes too overwhelming (I get it, babes.) Usually, I like to walk without one but when I need it, it comes in handy.

What sacred rituals are you doing daily?

Xx

Kaitlin