No other time in your life will be quite so wonderful and chaotic all at once. Remember to cut yourself some slack and use the following tips to maximize your time:

• Be flexible. If you are accustomed to being organized, the chaos that now surrounds you may be difficult to take. Remember, it is only temporary. Things will improve with time. Try to go with the flow for now.
• Remember to be realistic about what you can accomplish, especially in those first few months after your baby arrives. If you can just manage to get a shower, you’re doing great!
• Be careful in your estimates of how long activities will take you. When in doubt, allow for extra time.
• Delegate whenever you can. Don’t be afraid to ask others for help. Be specific in your requests.
• Remember your priorities. It’s okay to let some things go temporarily or take shortcuts in order to get the essential tasks done—so give yourself permission to order carry-out food, use paper plates, and have groceries delivered.
• Don’t be afraid to say no. Turn down requests if you need to and take care of yourself and your baby first. Your friends and family will understand.
• Take your baby with you. Wear your baby in a sling or carrier while doing household tasks, or put her in a stroller so you can do errands together. Your baby will get to see new things and you will get things done.
• Designate “daddy time.” Allow your partner some time each day to bond with your baby and give you a break.
• Leave time between tasks so you don’t rush from one thing to another. Whenever possible, finish one activity before moving on to the next. Scheduling fewer tasks but making sure to finish each one will leave you feeling more relaxed and may actually improve your productivity in the long run.
• Allow for travel time and plan for the worst-case scenario. Include time for congested traffic, stormy weather, and last-minute diaper changes.
• Don’t forget to schedule time for yourself! In the long run, you’ll be more productive if you allow some time of your own. Consider swapping babysitting duties with another mom, asking a friend or family member to step in, or hiring a sitter.

As a pregnant or new mom, you are assigned the very important job of nurturing your baby’s development. If some other things get put on the back burner, so be it. Chores and errands can often wait, but your baby will only be little once. Enjoy your time together and be sure to take care of yourself. The rest will fall into place.

excerpt from Pregnancy & Postpartum Anxiety Workbook: Practical Skills to Help You Overcome Anxiety, Worry, Panic Attacks, Obsessions, and Compulsions by Pamela S. Wiegartz Ph.D., ACT and Kevin L. Gyoerkoe Psy.D., ACT