Spilled Milx: Lifestyle

5 Tips for Managing Stress as a New Mom

By Jessica Calef

5 Tips for Managing Stress as a New Mom

Being a new mom is overwhelming. Throw a pandemic into the mix and those already intense feelings can be magnified. Thanks to Dr. Rachel, a clinical psychologist, fellow mom, and speaker who takes a holistic approach to health, we've got some tools to support us in managing stress as we navigate these unprecedented times with a baby in tow. 

1. Be kind to yourself! Motherhood is tough, but now we have a pandemic on top of our daily stressors.

2. Stay connected. Reach out to people who you find support in. This is not the time to be isolating yourself emotionally.

3. Be okay asking for help. You can't do it all yourself, but you can ask for help. Be assertive and ask for what you need, if that's for someone else changing the next diaper or you able to sleep in for a few minutes.

4. Remember that you can't pour from an empty cup. Take time out for you. You may be thinking you have no time, and I get it, but think of micro practices you can do. For instance, while you are washing your hands take a few deep breaths, or while you are pumping or breastfeeding, use that time for you. 

5. Remember no one is perfect. You are juggling a lot, so good enough truly is enough! Be kind to yourself. 

Dr. Rachel specializes in the mind-body connection, including stress reduction, the treatment of obesity, weight management, and health behavior change.  She is also a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at NYU Grossman School of Medicine and has a private practice in NYC. She is a sought after expert who has been featured in many media outlets, including The New York Times, TIME magazine, CNN, USA Today, Shape, and Women’s Health.  She loves sharing her knowledge and helping individuals live happier and healthier lives by promoting positive behavioral changes. She lives in NYC with her husband and 2 year old son and has learned to blend her work and mom life by #makingitwork. 

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Grab Your Gal Pal and Your Milx Bra for V-Day Self-Love

By Ruchi Dhami

Grab Your Gal Pal and Your Milx Bra for V-Day Self-Love
This Valentine's Day, we're all about self-love. So, we partnered with our Galentines at BodyWiseMama to bring you a full-body workout designed specifically for new moms that's bound to leave you feeling strong, focused, and refreshed. What are you waiting for? Grab your bestie, your Milx bra, and even your baby (optional!) for a sweat sesh!

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Let's Talk about Mom Guilt

By Ruchi Dhami

Let's Talk about Mom Guilt
As moms, we all are susceptible to experiencing that “I-should’ve-done-this-instead,” “I-can’t-believe-I-missed-that” keeps-you-up-at-night monologue of guilt. But, at the end of the day, we can sleep soundly knowing that we’ve done our best — for ourselves and for our kids. Our co-founders Melanie, Jess, and Marisa share how they deal with mom guilt. 

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New Year, New Resolutions: Committing to Ourselves in 2020

By Ruchi Dhami

New Year, New Resolutions: Committing to Ourselves in 2020

There’s something about the beginning of a new year. It’s arbitrary in so many ways — what really is different about January 1st compared to December 31st? But the air feels new as the metaphorical slate wipes clean, and after the celebratory confetti is swept up and all the champagne bottles (or sparkling cider — we see you, soon-to-be mamas!) are emptied, we feel a sort of freshness as we head into the new year.

And with the turn of the calendar page, we make new promises to ourselves. About 40% of Americans mark the start of the year with a list of New Years resolutions, most of which include saving money, losing weight, or following a passion like travel or reading. By the end of January, only 20% of those who resolved to do something will still be committed. By the end of the year, that number drops to 8%.

This got us thinking: should we even make resolutions? Being moms already brings about so much pressure — do we need to inflict more upon ourselves, only to likely be disappointed?

Well, we decided to do something a little bit different this year. Instead of making sweeping resolutions, we chose to make a few commitments to ourselves, and we wanted to share them with you!

We’ll make time for ourselves. Between being moms, wives, business partners, and full-time employees, there sometimes aren’t enough hours in the day for me time. And when we do get those opportunities, we’ve found ourselves feeling like we’re being self-indulgent. But that time is SO important and we are deserving of a little break! Whether it’s a quick manicure, lunch with the girls, date night, a 5-minute meditation, or a little time alone to read a book, we’re going to try to find those moments to do what we need to do to recharge our batteries, and most importantly, we’ll let that be okay.
We’ll set intentions and refer back to them as needed. Sometimes saying a mantra out loud can breathe life into the words. Read our 2020 Milx Manifesto, created with our friend Kate Jesuele, here, and bookmark the page so you can repeat these affirmations whenever your soul needs them.
We’ll forgive ourselves when things don’t go the way we planned. Motherhood is unpredictable. Sometimes juice spills all over the carpet. Sometimes we forget to enroll our child into music class. Sometimes our toddler won’t eat anything but cheddar bunnies. It’s hard to make mental concessions when things don’t go the way we thought they would, especially when we see a barrage of Instagram posts of moms who seem to have it all together, but as our friend Joanna Loewi says: chaos in motherhood is normal. For us, we’re going to try to remember, as long as our children are loved, safe, fed, and happy, then we’re doing our jobs just right.

 

What commitments are you making to yourself this year? Tell us in the comments below!

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Embracing the Chaos of Motherhood: An Interview with Joanna Loewi

By Ruchi Dhami

Embracing the Chaos of Motherhood: An Interview with Joanna Loewi
Being a mom is totally hectic. Life is in a constant state of chaos, regardless of best laid plans and intentions. Our little ones keep us on our toes! But what if we embraced the craziness? Wellness coach and mom of 2 Joanna Loewi tells us how to lean into the chaos and make it work.

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2020 Milx Manifesto

By Ruchi Dhami

2020 Milx Manifesto
It's 2020 and for us, that means it's the year of perspective. We're embodying a manifesto to take us through the next 12 months and beyond -- join us on this journey of mind, body, and soul.

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Milx Mom Style: Holidays 2019

By Ruchi Dhami

Milx Mom Style: Holidays 2019
If you're anything like us at Milx HQ, you're at some stage in your motherhood journey, staring at your closet, trying to figure out what to wear to your next holiday party. Don't worry -- we've got you covered. Our resident fashion stylist Alessandra Carlin shares her favorite picks for each stage of pregnancy and postpartum life that'll leave you looking fabulous at your next soiree.

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Maximizing Your Space for Your New Baby

By Ruchi Dhami

Maximizing Your Space for Your New Baby
Your new roommate might be tiny, but comes with a lot of stuff. Clutter-cutter pro Natalie Schrier tells us how to make the most of your space for your new baby.

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