5 Relaxing Hobbies for New Parents to Enjoy During Nap Time
How do you usually spend your baby’s nap time? Do you find yourself scrolling through your phone, catching up on chores, or simply sitting in silence, too tired to do much else? If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone.
Nap time is one of the few quiet moments in a new parent’s day. Instead of filling it with more tasks, it's helpful to take a little time to recharge. A hobby doesn’t have to take over your day to make a difference. It just has to help you slow down and feel a bit more like yourself.
Simple hobbies can bring a sense of calm and enjoyment, even if you only have 30 minutes. These five options are easy to try, require little setup, and can be picked up whenever you get a spare moment.
RC Planes
If you enjoy hands-on hobbies, model planes might be worth exploring. Building or maintaining small parts requires focus, which helps distract you from daily worries. It’s also a peaceful task that doesn’t involve noise or screens.
You don’t need a workshop or an entire afternoon to enjoy this hobby. Spending 20–30 minutes sanding, assembling, or organising parts can feel productive and relaxing at the same time. It’s an activity where progress adds up quietly over days or weeks.
Many new parents get started with rc planes with Frontline Hobbies, as they offer a good variety of kits suited to beginners. The right tools and guides can make the hobby less overwhelming and more enjoyable right from the start. Focusing on a straightforward project during nap time can give your day structure and the calm that comes with steady progress.
Even if you’re not ready to fly your plane anytime soon, just working on it in small steps can be rewarding. You’re building something at your own pace, and that’s enough. This hobby isn’t about speed. Instead, it focuses on the process.
Journaling or Creative Writing
A notebook and a pen can go a long way in helping you feel more centred. Journaling is one of the easiest ways to process your thoughts, especially when your day feels scattered. It can be as short as a sentence or two, or as long as a full page when time allows.
Some parents like to jot down their baby’s milestones, while others use it to track moods, habits, or sleep patterns. If journaling isn’t appealing, short creative writing exercises are another option. Freewriting, where you write whatever comes to mind without editing, can also help reduce mental clutter.
This kind of quiet expression doesn’t require focus for long stretches. You can start and stop as needed, and there’s no “right way” to do it. Even a few minutes can help you feel more in control of your thoughts.
Light Stretching or Yoga
A few minutes of movement can ease stress more than you’d expect. Many new parents deal with neck, back, and shoulder pain from holding and feeding their baby. Light stretching helps relieve tension and supports better posture throughout the day.
You don’t need to follow a whole routine or join a class. A couple of slow, focused movements can already shift your mood. If you’re unsure where to start, consider short videos online or mobile apps that guide you through beginner-friendly stretches and postnatal care.
Yoga, in particular, helps connect breathing with movement, which can calm the nervous system. The goal isn’t to get a workout—it’s to give your body a break. And since it’s quiet and doesn’t require much space, it’s easy to fit into nap time without any disruption.
Crafts or Drawing
Taking time to make something with your hands can be grounding. Whether it’s drawing, knitting, or building something simple, crafts give your brain something steady to focus on. The progress is often small, but satisfying.
It’s not about being artistic or producing perfect results. These hobbies are more about enjoying the process. For example, colouring books for adults are a low-effort option that still gives a sense of relaxation.
You can also try painting, crocheting, or even paper crafts, depending on what you enjoy. These can be paused and picked up later, so there’s no pressure to finish quickly. Over time, you might even find a hobby that becomes part of your daily routine.
Listening to Audiobooks or Podcasts
Some parents find it hard to sit still, even when the baby’s asleep. If you prefer to stay moving, listening to something engaging can help pass the time without adding stress. Audiobooks and podcasts offer a way to learn, laugh, or relax without needing to stare at a screen.
This makes them perfect during chores like folding laundry or preparing meals. You can choose topics that make you feel connected to the outside world, or go for fiction to escape for a bit. Either way, it’s a hands-free, flexible way to recharge.
Try different genres or episodes until something sticks. The best part is that you can pause whenever needed and pick up where you left off without missing anything important. It’s a small habit that can bring a bit of entertainment into an otherwise routine day.
Final Words
It’s easy to forget your own needs when life revolves around a tiny human. But setting aside even a short break to do something you enjoy can make all the difference. Try what feels most natural and see where it takes you. You might find a small, quiet joy that becomes the best part of your day.
