10 Things I’m Doing Now That I’m One Year Postpartum...and Rediscovering Myself (Again)
PHOTO BY ELLIE LILSTROM
A lil over a year ago, I stepped into a new chapter of motherhood — not as a new mom or first-time mom, but with a new baby, a new rhythm, and a whole new version of me emerging in the process. Even though I’d done the postpartum dance before, this time came with its own challenges, shifts, and surprises. The first year was beautiful, yes, but also disorienting. I didn’t just have to learn how to care for another baby — I had to figure out who I was again, now that motherhood had stretched and reshaped me once more.
And honestly? I’m still figuring it out.
Now that I’m one year postpartum, I’ve started picking up the pieces — not to rebuild who I was, but to better understand who I’m becoming. I’ve been slowly carving out space for myself again, in the quiet in-between moments and the daily chaos alike.
This past year, I've developed ten ways of slowly reclaiming my sense of self — both the familiar parts and the ones I never knew I needed.
They aren’t just new habits. They’re little acts of rediscovery — reminders that I exist outside of the “mom” label, and that I still matter in the story I’m writing.
1. Reclaiming My Skin... and Skincare Routine
My face has seen things — not just from this year, but from years of motherhood before it. The sleepless nights hit different in your thirties, and the “bounce back” fantasy has long exited the chat.
For so long, my skincare was an afterthought — survival-mode doesn’t exactly leave room for serums. Now one year postpartum, I just want to feel good in my face again. My routine isn’t long or expensive. It’s intentional. Cleanser. Moisturizer. SPF. Eye patches if I’m feeling fancy. It’s five quiet minutes that remind me I still matter, not because I’m being seen, but because I’m choosing to see myself.
2. Writing Again... In Full Coherent Sentences
I’ve always processed life through words but after giving birth, my brain felt scrambled and heavy. Creative energy? Nonexistent. But slowly, as my mind cleared, the itch to write returned.
This year, I started writing for myself again — journaling and blogging. I’m giving myself space to put thoughts into words again — in the margins of nap time or when the house is finally quiet. It’s not always polished and it’s not always public, but it’s mine. Writing is how I come home to myself, and I didn’t realize how much I missed that until I started again.
3. Making Health Appointments... And Not Just the Baby
I don't like adulting, so after taking care of everyone else, I skipped taking care of myself... and paid the price for it. This time around, I've made my own care part of my appointment making routines — dentist, OB, therapist, dermatologist, chiropractor... you name it. And I've encouraged my husband to do the same. I’ve learned the hard way that putting our health last doesn’t make us more devoted... just more depleted.
4. Moving My Body Without Pressure... Just Progress
At this stage, I’m not chasing fitness goals — I’m chasing function, flexibility, and a little peace of mind. I’m just trying to feel good in my body again — strong enough to carry my baby, flexible enough to sit on the floor without groaning, rested enough to chase my older kid without resentment.
Movement looks different in this season (and on this body). I’m moving without punishment, without pressure. I walk, stretch, dance, and squat with a baby on my hip. Sometimes I track it, sometimes I don’t. I just move because it reminds me I’m alive, and every walk, stretch, and sprint after the baby is a victory in my book.
5. Asking for and Accepting Help... Because Now I Know Better
I used to wear self-sacrifice like a badge. This time, I retired it. Ok maybe not fully retired yet, but definitely on an extended leave. I know now that asking for help doesn’t mean I’m failing or that I'm weak. It means I’m wise enough to know I just can’t do it all, especially with multiple kids and one brain that’s always high-key exhausted.
6. Rediscovering My Own Interests
The more I do this, the more I realized how easy it is to forget who I was before sippy cups and snack bags... and I only have two kids. This past year, I’ve made time to pick up actual hobbies — books without pictures, playlists without lullabies, conversations that don’t start with, “So how’s sleep going?” Tapping in cozy hobbies that fill my cup and don't require anything from me but intention and presence is new territory... and I love it here.
7. Making Space for Mental Health... On Purpose
Postpartum is not a one-size-fits-all experience — and just because I’ve done it before doesn’t mean I’ve mastered it. I’ve experienced postpartum anxiety before, so I knew going into this chapter that I couldn’t afford to ignore my mental health. This time, I approached it with intention and a plan. I checked in early and gave myself permission to say “I’m not okay” before things got heavy. I've made therapy part of the rhythm, not just a rescue.
Waiting for a breaking point doesn’t make me strong. Catching it early — and tending to myself on purpose — that’s strength.
8. Redefining Rest and Recharging Guilt-Free
Sleep is still a lawless land, so I've had to adapt and learn to chase rest in whatever form it comes — quiet moments in the car, screen time without guilt, and simply saying “no” when I need space. The rest doesn’t look the same this time, but I no longer feel bad for needing it.
9. Planning Ahead & Mapping the Next Chapter
Planning used to feel optional. Now, it’s the thing that keeps me from unraveling... it’s survival. With more moving parts — more schedules, more needs, more logistics — I’ve learned that carving out time to plan is the only way I carve out time for me.
I block out solo time. I schedule rest. I loosely prep meals I know I’ll thank myself for later. Planning is less about control and more about creating margin so I don’t always feel like I’m catching up, reacting, or losing myself in the shuffle.
10. Building Simple Morning & Evening Routines to Bookend the Chaos
The mornings start early and the nights end late. The days are full, noisy, and usually unpredictable... even with my planning. Routines give me something to return to.
I don’t wake up at 5 a.m. or meditate in candlelight. Sometimes my morning routine is just brushing my teeth and drinking coffee while it’s still hot(ish) — but it counts.
Evenings are my exhale. I put my phone down. I listen to a book for five minutes. I tidy the space so I can breathe in it tomorrow. My routines are a moment of stillness before the day starts and a quiet wind-down at night. They're not elaborate... just enough rhythm to make the chaos feel less consuming and signal that this time is for me — not the house, not the family, not a to-do list... just me.
Being one year postpartum isn’t a milestone I take lightly — especially this second time around. I'm not trying to go back to who I was before motherhood. That version of me was great, but she’s not the goal. This time, the goal is staying connected to myself as I evolve — even as I stretch to hold more. This version of me is layered. She’s learned more. She’s softer in some ways and sharper in others.
Each of these ten practices has helped me return to myself, not all at once, but moment by moment. It’s messy and there are still days I feel like I’m disappearing, but the difference is I know how to find my way back now. I know what helps.
If you’re in this season too — whether it’s your first baby or your fifth — I hope you feel seen here. I hope you give yourself permission to name what’s helping you come back to yourself. Big or small, intentional or accidental, they all count. Your “rediscovery list" doesn’t have to be perfect or profound. It just has to be yours because you deserve it. There’s room for you in your story, too.]
