10 Tips to Help You Find Balance as a New Mama

You have a lengthy to-do list, everyone needs you and you're frazzled. Being a new mom can be chaotic, especially if you have other kids! Do you feel like you need to make a change? Here are 10 tips to help you find balance and feel better. First up: Start a morning routine. Get up 30 minutes early and do something to take care of you. Have a cup of té de manzanilla or a cafecito, stretch and plan out the day. You'll feel ahead of the curve.

If you don't have time to go to yoga (and really, who does?), practice meditating whenever you have a few minutes of peace. It's simple: Sit in a comfortable position or lie down, close your eyes, stop thinking of everything that's usually on your mind, focus on the rise and fall of your breath. It helps sharpen your focus, which will help you in high-stress situations. You can repeat your favorite mantras in English and Spanish as an affirmation, too.

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It can be difficult, but sometimes the best answer is no. Particularly because saying no to someone often can mean saying yes to your familia. If you have too much on your plate, don't commit to extra work or volunteering. Saying something along the lines of "I'd love to help with that if I didn't have so much going on at the moment" or "Sorry I can't make it, but thank you for thinking of me." Both are polite ways to decline anything you can't handle.

Whether you call your abuelita or a professional, sometimes the best thing you can do when you feel overwhelmed is to delegate to others. Shower, nap, catch up on your personal projects or run errands while your kids hang out with their abuelos. Teach your kids to be responsible for certain chores if they're old enough, tackle major cleaning together as a group or hire help if you can swing the cost.

Moms are natural multitaskers but be careful not to overdo it. For working mamás, the desire to do it all versus the ability to do it all can be a struggle. If the quality of your work or interactions with your children suffer, it may be time to step back. It's good to put away your smartphone or turn off your computer to give your kids and family the attention they need. Go on a tech cleanse for a few hours or a few days, depending on what works for your lifestyle.

My mamá always started her days by giving thanks. Now a mom myself, I know that "normal days" are blessings in disguise. When you run into a hard day, you realize how lucky you are to have the ordinary blessings we sometimes forget. Practice gratitude for every opportunity and lesson that comes your way. This can be a path to more blessings, big or small.

Perhaps you find fortitude in attending a religious service or maybe you just like to wax poetic about life's mysteries. Nurturing your spiritual life can help you confront hectic days with more grace. If life begins to feel overwhelming, try to find your center again—wherever that might be.

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If you have pent up stress, one of the best ways to get rid of it is to run, walk or dance it out. If you can't schedule gym time, try to be active with your family. Pushing a stroller around town, bouncing to the rhythm with bebé, running with your kids in the backyard or spending a morning on a light hike are all healthy ways to release tension while getting quality family time.

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If you feel sluggish, you might just need a healthy boost. The way you start your day models the rest of your day, so start it with plenty of veggies. Latina moms have long known the benefits of jugos naturales. Adding a green juice to your breakfast will give you the energy you need to make it through the day and can help cut down on sugar cravings.

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Mental health is a taboo subject in many Latino families. Moms can have a lot on their mind: goals, love, separation, loss, forgiveness, worry. Add the potential for postpartum depression into the mix and it's a lot to handle. It's hard to focus on the day-to-day needs of life and work when your mind is on other matters. Start processing the issues at hand so you can move forward. Some you can DIY and with others you might seek help from a pro. Do what's best for you, mami.