Relaxing Hobbies for New Moms

Finding time to relax when you have a new child can be overwhelming, but that doesn't mean you should give up your free time. In this article, we'll talk about some soothing hobbies for new moms that don't require a lot of time, energy, or money that you can do to help reconnect with yourself.

What are the benefits of hobbies for new moms?

After the birth of their child, many moms feel like they've lost touch with who they are outside of their role as a caregiver. When you find a new hobby or return to a once-loved pastime, you can reclaim parts of yourself that existed before motherhood – or even discover new parts of your identity. Your hobbies are a welcome reminder that you are much more than nap schedules and diaper changes.

What types of hobbies should new moms try?

Not all hobbies will fit into a new mom's routine, so we're highlighting hobbies that don't require a long attention span or a set schedule. These are things that you can pick up and put down during nap time. They include activities like online puzzles, coloring, knitting, journaling, or anything else you want to try. The only goal is that the time you spend on these hobbies should offer you an escape from the pressure of being a mom.

10 relaxing hobbies for new moms

1. Playing Online Solitaire

For a relaxing screen-based hobby that can be done with one hand while holding or feeding a baby, online Solitaire is a great option. Playing Solitaire can improve focus, boost mental clarity, and offer a hypnotically calming, rhythmic task. For a free, easy-to-navigate online platform, 247 Solitaire offers multiple variations of Solitaire, featuring stat tracking, seasonal decks, and customizable difficulty levels.

2. Adult Coloring

If you want a creative and meditative way to pass the time that doesn't require too much skill or cleanup, coloring is a rewarding hobby that's also been proven to relieve stress. All you need to get started is your adult coloring book and a few colored pencils. Those who prefer digital coloring can also try apps like Pigment or Happy Color.

3. Journaling or Gratitude Logging

Part of rediscovering yourself is getting in touch with your thoughts and feelings about your life. One great option is journaling or gratitude logging. You don't need to write a novel, but set aside a few minutes for daily reflections or answering a prompt like "What made you smile today?"

There are different possibilities for journaling. You can find cute, customizable paper journals or use popular apps like Day One Journal to articulate your feelings on your phone. Journaling is not only a way to decompress, but it's also been studied as a tool to help manage depression, stress, and different forms of mental illness.

4. Gentle Stretching or Guided Breathwork

If you're missing a regular Yoga or flexibility routine, you can also look into gentle stretching or guided breathwork sessions. Your body may be more delicate than you are used to; however, there are YouTube channels that focus on stretching workouts for postpartum women. Popular accounts like Yoga With Adriene offer guided breathwork videos if you want something a little less active. Also, apps like Postpartum Workout can ease you back into light exercise.

When considering options, research whether the movements are safe for your personal condition. Different people may experience individual limitations with stretching and exercise based on their pregnancy experience. Still, postpartum exercise has been shown to have numerous benefits, including boosting energy, preventing depression, promoting better sleep, and relieving stress. For more guidance, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists offers extensive overviews about how to approach postpartum exercise.

5. Listening to Audiobooks or Podcasts

Nursing or doing chores can become repetitive and numbing, but one option is to multitask these actions with a hands-free audiobook or podcast. Whether you're using a podcast platform like Overcast or an audiobook library resource like Libby, there are many different things to listen to, ranging from history podcasts to the latest beach reads. As a new mom, you may especially like popular podcasts like The Mom Hour and NPR's The Life Kit: Parenting, which gives you plenty of advice to add to your toolbox as a budding parent.

6. Easy Crafting (Knitting, Embroidery, etc.)

If you miss having a creative outlet for your hands, crafting through activities like knitting and embroidery is a great hobby choice. Just make sure you stick to low-mess, beginner-friendly crafts. Otherwise, it might become overwhelming.

You can easily find quick-start kits for knitting and embroidery on places like Etsy and Amazon. Few things are more satisfying than creating something tactile and tangible, and you'll feel like you're getting in touch with your pre-motherhood passions.

7. Puzzle-Solving (Jigsaw or Word Puzzles)

You don't have to be creative to do something with your hands. Physical and digital puzzle options like word puzzles, crosswords, and jigsaws are all ways to stimulate your brain and have been shown to support memory function and raise one's mood.

Puzzles are especially effective as a way to relax, as you can concentrate on something achievable and completion-based that you can continually see progress on. You can find free online puzzles in many places, including Jigsaw Planet, many online newspapers, and sites like Poki.

8. Baking or Easy Cooking Experiments

For those who want a practical hobby that's nourishing for the soul and the body, baking or cooking are two activities with long-term and short-term benefits. You might not want to start with Mastering the Art of French Cooking, but you can begin with simple, nap-time-friendly recipes like muffins or overnight oats. As another recommendation, you can also prep mixes in advance, so all the labor will be done by the time you want to cook.

9. Gardening or Houseplant Care

If you're still feeling the desire to be nurturing outside the time for your little one, gardening or taking care of a houseplant are two indoor-friendly ideas that you can do in pieces. Succulents and small herb gardens on the windowsills are two easy possibilities that won't take too much out of you. And it's a calming routine to water, prune, or watch something grow. Plus, exposure to nature has been linked with improved attention spans, lowered stress levels, and increased empathy.

10. Digital Scrapbooking or Photo Organizing

It's never too early to start preserving the past and the present for the future, and digital scrapbooking or photo organizing are two effective ways to reflect on how things have changed. Various free online tools exist, including Canva and Google Photos, or even apps like Tinybeans, which create easy ways to share pictures and videos of your little one with friends and family. One extra great thing about digital scrapbooking or photo organizing is that it can double as a gift-making tool when you want to make a more formal album for someone.

How to find time for hobbies as a new mom

You don't need to carve out hours to return to your hobbies. Even five to ten minutes can help with stress relief. Alternatively, try to combine activities with existing routines instead of singling out time for a hobby. That could be things like listening to a podcast while folding laundry or stretching during the baby's tummy time. Studies show that taking breaks throughout the day can reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety, as well as increase your sense of well-being.

Nap time? Squeeze in a game of Solitaire!

Being a new mother can be exhausting, beautiful, and time-consuming, but you also deserve time for yourself to relax and feel joy. You shouldn't view hobbies as one more thing on your to-do list. These are gentle ways to feel like you again. The next time you feel drained, try just one of these things from the list, even if it's only for a few minutes. You'll be surprised how restored you feel. Take Solitaire, for instance, to ease into hobby time. It's free, calming, and always ready to play when you need a break.

DISCLAIMER: The games on this website are using PLAY (fake) money. No payouts will be awarded, there are no "winnings", as all games represented by 247 Games LLC are free to play. Play strictly for fun.