Newbies going on their first maternity leave or who’ve already started one—gather here! Let’s talk about the things you can actually do to make the most of this time for yourself, your baby, and your family as a whole.
At the start of my maternity leave, I found myself doing random Google and YouTube searches in the middle of the night, rocking my baby to sleep while searching (somewhat desperately) for ideas on what to do with this time. I’m talking: “What productive things can I do during maternity leave?”
You’ll probably do this at some point, especially if you’re taking an extended break from work. If you’re pregnant and reading this, it might help to make a wishlist with timelines so you can pull it out later when you’re ready to start feeling like yourself again.
Now, after spending a full year on maternity leave, here are 17 ideas—realistic and doable—for what you can do during yours:
1. Take Walks
Walk in the park or just around your neighbourhood. Fresh air works wonders for your mental health, and your baby naps better afterward. Well, it’s important to note that sometimes you’ll be forced out of the house for a walk when the baby’s really fussy and nothing else works. I’ve been there—so I get it!
2. Bond with Baby at Home
This is what maternity leave is all about. Enjoy the skin-to-skin cuddles, tummy time, reading baby books, taking lots of pictures, and don’t forget—videos. You’ll look back and be glad you captured these fleeting moments.
3. Fill Out the Baby Book
You won’t remember all the “firsts” unless you write them down. I bought a baby journal that I update monthly and even set a reminder on my phone. Now that I’m wrapping up my leave, I’m giving it one final tidy—because who knows when I’ll have the time again!
4. Baby Sensory or Rhyme Time Classes
Check your local library – they often run free or low-cost sessions. These helped me bond with my baby, gave us a reason to get out of the house, and allowed us to meet other mums.
5. Take Swimming or Baby Yoga Classes
I didn’t start this until my little one turned one, and honestly, I wish I had done it sooner. It’s relaxing, fun, and builds water confidence in babies – plus, it’s also another opportunity to get out of the house.
6. Coffee or Lunch Dates with Friends
Maternity leave can feel isolating. There’s less adult interaction compared to going to work every day. One time, I found myself on an unplanned but lovely coffee dates with another mum, when a rhyme time session was unexpectedly cancelled. We took that time to chat about our motherhood journeys. It was very refreshing.
7. Go shopping (or window shopping)
Myself and my little one absolutely enjoyed shopping as a bonding activity. Window shopping was particularly fun for me as it allowed me visit shops/stores I wasn’t able to go to while I was working full-time. This gave me a better idea what where I could get our household essentials.
8. Meet Other Mums
I met lovely mums through baby classes, and those weekly meetups became something to look forward to. Your “mum tribe” makes all the difference.
9. House Projects
Use the time (when you can) to tackle small home projects like decluttering, setting up a play area, decorating, gardening, or just finishing that to-do list you’ve been ignoring.
10. Career-Boosting Activities
Yes, you’re on leave – but if you have time and capacity, consider looking into professional development activities that you can do to elevate your career by the time you are returning to work. I attended online courses and conferences, and even took time to reflect on my future career path (more on that in another blog post for my fellow medics).
11. Baby-Proof the House
They’ll be crawling before you know it! Get ahead of it by baby proofing the house as soon as possible.
12. Do Some Paperwork
Now’s a good time to apply for your baby’s passport or visa, update insurance, and even open a savings account for them.
13. Sort Out Childcare Early
Start your nursery or childminder search early – I began mine at five months postpartum, but some start during pregnancy. It makes the return to work much smoother.
14. Go on a Holiday
Enjoy time away with your little one and family as a whole.
15. Use Your Keep-In-Touch (KIT) Days
KIT days are useful to get one’s head back in the ‘game’, most especially if you are planning an extended leave. I used mine to pop back into work and see what had changed, attended teachings and refresher courses. It really helped reduce my anxiety about returning to work.
16. Try a New Hobby
Knitting, baking, journaling, learning a new language, swimming, meditation – whatever feeds your soul.
17. Do Nothing (Seriously)
Sometimes, just being a mum is more than enough. If all you do in a day is survive and feed your baby, that’s more than OK.
Final Thoughts
As I said in a previous post, maternity leave isn’t a productivity contest. It’s a season of transition, bonding, healing, and adjusting. But when you’re ready, these ideas can help you feel recharged, fulfilled, and more grounded in this new chapter.
If there’s anything I’ve missed or something you’ve loved doing during your leave, share it in the comments below!
See you in the next one 💛
Yours,
Dr Aarin – Your favourite doctor mum
