Are you willing to accept lifestyle changes on your way to become parents?

I always wanted to be a father, especially after repeatedly noticing my friends embracing parenting. The desire to have my own kid kept growing stronger, but at the back of my mind I always knew that I too would have to change to accommodate two new human beings in my life. First and the most important, my wife and eventually our child.

Part 3 of “Planning to be a parent series” I want to highlight the top priorities and changes that I had to embrace on becoming a parent. 

When we are younger and childless, our time was truly our own, we did whatever we fancied at ungodly hours. We ate and drank what we wanted to, we slept and woke as and when desired, meeting friends unplanned, exploring and travelling on a whim, putting in more than 8 hours at work because we could and spending money like we had a bottomless treasure chest. We lived life with great abandon, but standing on the precipice of parenthood, we need to abandon this lifestyle, or at least course-correct.

I would now like the share the major parts of my life that needed changing:

Health

In my 20s, I thought I was invincible. Sure, I had some not-so-healthy habits, but who doesn't, right? Fast forward to planning for a baby and suddenly health becomes a big deal. Everyone talks about the baby's health, but what about us parents? Especially moms-to-be who carry the little one for nine months! But we knew that we had to start way before planning for the child. We wanted to focus deeply on regular workouts and better eating habits we were not aiming for perfection, just progress. The idea was want to be the energetic, fun parents our future kid deserves.

Sleep

My sleep habits weren't great before. I usually got 6-7 hours on weekdays, sometimes only 5 on weekends. Not healthy at all. Late-night binge-watching, midnight snacks, and drinking all messed up my sleep. We kept hearing from other parents, "Get your sleep now, you'll need it!" They were right – good rest is crucial for new parents. My wife was always good about sleep, but I struggled. Changing wasn't quick or easy. It took time to understand how important rest really is and to improve my habits. Then, when our daughter was born, it all got thrown off again. But that's a whole other story for later.

Spends

When it's just you and your partner, spending money freely is easy. Fancy dinners, expensive purchases, weekend travels for fun? sure, no problem. But this is a big challenge for someone who loves buying things and experiences. To prepare for a baby, you need to start cutting back on spending. Focus on buying what you really need and plan your indulgence expenses carefully. It is necessary to start this habit early, before the baby arrives. This way, you'll get used to controlled spending and can set aside exclusive money for the baby's needs. Starting now helps you adjust to this new way of managing money before your child is born.

Time Management

Managing time is very crucial for me. There are so many things that I want to experience that it’s almost impossible to find time. Now imagine trying to carve out time when you enter parenthood. That child of yours will demand the most time. Things will get tough, messy and mentally draining and in all of this it is much needed to have some alone time, especially for the mom. So, before your baby arrives, start practicing to prioritize tasks and saying no to less important activities. This will also help you become more efficient at work by creating daily schedules and sticking to them. You have to remember that once you become a parent maximum time will have to be devoted to the family

Think hard before you answer the question correctly

Are you willing to accept lifestyle changes on your way to become parents?

Time is precious, especially the older you. I leave this one to your judgement. Good Luck.