5 ways to overcome new mum exhaustion

1) Don’t press snooze

As tempting as it is to hit the snooze button when the alarm goes off in the morning (to give yourself a few more minutes in bed before actually getting up), it’s the worst thing you can do.

Independent sleep expert Dr Neil Stanley says that pressing snooze on your alarm may make you fall back into a deep sleep – which is a huge shock to the body to wake up from and definitely isn’t a good way to start the day.

2) Fish for compliments

Being told you’ve slept well could help you feel less tired, US researchers have found.

For the study, participants were told analytics could pinpoint the quality of their sleep the night before, and were told their sleep had been good, bad or average.

The participants who had been told that they had got a good night’s sleep then scored better on real tests set by the researchers. This placebo effect can make a real difference, so ask your partner to tell you that you slept like a baby and look fresh and awake – even if you don’t.

3) Go for a quick walk

While hitting the gym isn’t really an option with a newborn in tow anyway, you can’t even muster the energy to try out that new fitness DVD you ordered from Amazon. A quick walk to the park is enough exercise anyway, isn’t it?

A study in the Personality and Social Psychology journal showed that you’ll feel energised for at least two hours after just a 10-minute walk.

So put your baby in her pushchair and take her for a quick stroll each day – it will do you both the world of good.

4) Brave a cold shower

Researchers have found that just three minutes under a cold shower will counteract some of the effects of chronic fatigue and wake up your muscles.

If you don’t have time – or can’t face it – splash some cold water on your face for a quick fix.

5) Eat some complex carbs

Scrap the diet and make a bowl of wholemeal pasta or snack on a handful of nuts. Complex carbs (otherwise known as starch) are a brilliant cure for drowsiness. They take longer to break down than normal carbohydrates, leaving you fuller for longer and give you plenty of long-lasting energy.

Plus, the hit of glucose will feed your brain, making you feel more energised and on the ball.