Top 10 Activities To Help You Relax During Pregnancy

Top 10 Activities To Help You Relax During Pregnancy

Pregnancy comes with a number of challenges, and although it’s an exciting period of a woman’s life, it can create many emotional discomforts including stress. It can be difficult to find time to enjoy the things you did before becoming pregnant. With this, it’s important to take a little time out to relax. We’ve put together a list of pregnancy-friendly activities that can help ease those nerves.

1. Arts and crafts

It may have been a while since you picked up a paintbrush, but being creative can have therapeutic effects on your body and your mind. Painting, drawing, knitting, sewing or crafting doesn’t put strain on the body and allows your imagination to run wild. You’ll be spoilt for choice with a range of materials you can use to create something like a painting, dream catcher or blanket for your baby and their room.

If you’re using paints, glue or any other materials with chemicals, be sure to purchase non-toxic products. It may be best to avoid oil paints as they’re strong in odour.

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2. Read

Reading is probably one of the greatest activities you can do to relax. Whether it is fiction, non-fiction, a biography or researching topics of interest, you’re expanding your knowledge while focusing on something other than the stressors of pregnancy. You might feel inclined to read about ‘what to expect when you’re expecting’, but it’s recommended to avoid this while relaxing, so you can shift your thoughts from the baby to yourself, even for just a short while. Be careful not to get caught in the Google trap – by spending way too much time reading pregnancy forums filled with negative comments that might stress you out even more.

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3. Start a blog

A blog can be a great way to keep you busy when you’re feeling stressed or overwhelmed by the pressures of being pregnant. You can start a blog on any topic, which is handy if you have a specific hobby you enjoy like art, movies, theatre, or food. Likewise, you can document your pregnancy journey online and connect with other expectant mums.

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4. Study

Studying is probably one of the best ways to immerse yourself in something new, while learning along the way. You can take a short course online or attend classes at a local TAFE, library or other institution that offers arts classes, baking lessons, computer courses and more. You’ll also meet new people if you attend sessions, or you can work from the comfort of your own home if you study externally.

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5. Cook

Whether you’re a natural masterchef or aren’t too fond of the kitchen, cooking is another relaxing activity that allows you to experiment with different recipes and flavours (especially appealing if you’re craving certain foods while pregnant). Baking cakes is a fun activity that’s creative and technical at the same time. Show off your baking skills and host a fundraiser or high-tea with friends to keep you busy too.

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6. Exercise

You’ve probably heard this a number of times, but exercise is beneficial for your body and your mind, as it releases serotonin and gets your circulation going. Stick to light routines like yoga, Pilates, walks or light weights. Read more on safe exercises to do during pregnancy here.

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7. Gardening

If it’s sunny and warm, don’t spend the days inside watching TV! Gardening might not sound so appealing, but it definitely comes with an array of pros that will see you skipping the indoors for the outdoors. While gardening, you’ll soak in the crucial vitamin D that’s needed for good health, sleep and mental well-being. Gardening enables you to connect to nature and shift your focus from your worries to what’s at hand. Start a veggie patch full of in-season produce, a flower bed, or just trim some roses or shrubs.

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8. Dance

It might sound a little silly, but dancing is a good way to have fun and relax at the same time, while getting fit too! You can find a variety of unique dancing classes to suit your tastes, including Latin dancing, ballet, ballroom dancing or folk dancing. Your little bub will enjoy the movement and rhythms that are meant to be beneficial for them while in the womb.

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9. Start a puzzle or a board game

Puzzles aren’t just for children! Sitting down with a large puzzle can really get your mind off of the pressures of being pregnant. They’re fun and take you back to the good old times of childhood when everything was a lot simpler. Likewise, board games are a nice way to connect and spend time with your other half instead of sitting in front of the TV not talking. Board games initiate conversation, and although they’re vintage and a little traditional, they’re more relaxing than video games that can place strain on your eyes.

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10. Be a tourist in your own town

Have you ever really explored your own city or state? Sometimes we become so adjusted to our everyday routine that we forget what’s really out there. If you haven’t discovered your city’s hidden gems, make a day of it and head out on an adventure. It will be a great way to get out of the house, stimulate your brain and take a breather from the usual pregnancy habits that feel boring, while noting of new places you can take your child as they grow up! Whether it’s the museum, art gallery, botanical gardens or suburbs/towns on the outskirts of your city, you’ll undoubtedly have fun and educate yourself at the same time. Google is a great place to start searching for new treasures to explore.

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Pregnancy doesn’t have to be so tedious and stressful when there’s an abundant line-up of things to do during the 9 months – that in the end will fly by if you’re occupied. You don’t have to leave the house to relax if you don’t feel up to it, but if you’re getting tired of the same old routine, there are ways to relax outside of the house. Whether it’s exploring new places, picking up a new hobby, studying or gardening, you’ll ease those pregnancy nerves and stay busy at the same time.