I’d be lying if I said getting pregnant with my son was quick or easy. We knew it wouldn’t happen overnight, but WOW… actively trying to conceive truly messes with your mind. It quickly becomes all you can think about. The journey to pregnancy is an emotional rollercoaster filled with anticipation, high hopes, and moments of frustration.

The waiting—especially the dreaded two-week wait—can feel endless and overwhelming. But learning to trust the process, embrace God’s timing, and practicing patience can make a world of difference. It’s not always easy, but shifting your mindset can bring a sense of peace during an otherwise unpredictable journey.

Here are a few tips to help you navigate this season with strength and resilience.

1. Acknowledge how you feel at the moment

The month before I actually got pregnant, I was five days late—and I’m never late—so I was convinced this was it. We’d been trying for a few months, and this seemed like the moment everything was falling into place. To my surprise, the test was negative, and my period arrived shortly after. As it turns out, stress and travel can delay your cycle, and that’s exactly what happened to me.

That experience brought a wave of emotions: frustration, worry, and a sense of failure. Questions filled my mind: Will I be able to conceive on my own? Is something wrong? Why is this taking so long? After dwelling in those feelings, I decided to let go of meticulously tracking ovulation and fertility days. Instead, I chose to live my life as I had before, trusting that God would allow it to happen when it was meant to.

The very next month, when I wasn’t overanalyzing or obsessing, I got my positive test! That moment reminded me of an important lesson: it’s natural to feel anxious, excited, or even disappointed during this process. But trying to suppress these emotions can make the journey even harder. Give yourself grace, trust the process, and know that your time will come.

Tips:

Allow yourself to FEEL - acknowledging that what you are feeling is valid and isn’t “crazy”.
Remind yourself that it’s okay to have ups and downs—it doesn’t define your journey.
Remember that although it feels like forever - this is only a temporary process (for most).

2. Take time to educate yourself about the process

For some reason, I grew up with the idea that women get pregnant right away. I’d see so many women conceive without even trying, or not realizing they were until a few weeks in. So, when I learned that the average time frame for conception can be 6 to 8 months, I was shocked! One thing I learned early on is the importance of research—getting familiar with the process and understanding the timeline.

This knowledge changed my entire perspective. I went from stressing over not getting pregnant in the first 2-3 months to adjusting my mental timeline and easing up on the pressure. Understanding how conception works has helped me set more realistic, long-term expectations. The truth is, for a healthy couple, it can take up to a year to conceive, depending on age and other health factors. So, give yourself grace and trust that it will happen when it’s meant to.

Tips:

Become familiar with your ovulation cycle to identify your most fertile days by using apps (I utilize the Flo app), ovulation predictor kits, or basal body temperature tracking can be helpful tools.
Schedule regular check-ins with your doctor / gynecologist to make sure everything is going well.

3. Focus on your health instead.

It’s so important to make sure that you are taking care of your body. We hear it all the time, but preparing to form and carry a baby should consist of moving & feeding our bodies. Instead of solely focusing on the outcome of a pregnancy, make sure you prioritize your physical and emotional well-being. Preparing your body and mind for pregnancy can be empowering & beneficial.

Tips:

Make sure you eat meals that have are rich in folic acid, iron & all the essential nutritions.
Stay active with any exercise, like walking, running, yoga, or going to the gym.
Take your mind off of pregnancy and focus on keeping yourself distracted. Pick up a hobby or activity to complete to help as you wait.

4. Pick up hobbies that can help distract YOUR mind & keep you busy

When the larger goal of becoming pregnant feels out of reach, focusing on smaller activities can make the journey more manageable and help time pass. Shifting the focus to an activity where you control the start and finish can help distract your mind and keep you occupied doing something you enjoy. This will also help calm your mind down and with that, your body distressed.

Tips:

Pick up a new hobby or revisit an old one to keep your mind engaged. I wanted to get back into crafts and I picked up a ton of DIY sets from Barnes and Nobles to do, like diamond painting, crocheting and coloring. It was fun to get back to something I loved before and be entirely focused on that.
Plan a small getaway or date nights to keep your relationship strong and fun.

5. Avoid being OBSESSED with timelines and dates

During our trying-to-conceive journey, there came a month when the obsession with “ovulation day” and fertility became so intense that, honestly, it started to feel like a chore for both of us. At that point, I realized this wasn’t how I wanted it to be. I never wanted an intimate and loving moment to feel like an obligation—there was no fun or joy in that. While tracking cycles can be helpful, constantly calculating dates can add unnecessary pressure and take the joy out of the entire process.

Tips:

Dedicate only specific times for planning or tracking to simply be aware of the dates, but don’t look for it every single day. Instead, focus on other aspects of your life and enjoy your partner as you normally would.
Trust that your body is working behind the scenes, even if results aren’t showing up immediately.

6. Set short-term goals & celebrate your small wins.

The world keeps going and life doesn’t stop while you’re trying to conceive. Make sure to set daily goals and to celebrate personal and professional accomplishments in order to maintain a sense of accomplishment.

Tips:

Work on a home project (like renewing a space or decluttering a closet) or finish a project at work.
Set and achieve a fitness goal such as finding a new class to join, go to the gym X amount of days a week or simply going on walks more.
Learn a new skill (I picked up calligraphy and currently want to learn to sew) or completing a creative craft.

7. Remember: It’s a Journey, Not a Race.

OMG, this is huge….understanding that it’s truly NOT a race… it’ll happen when it’s meant to be: whether in 1 month or trying for years. Every journey to parenthood is unique, and comparing yourself to others will only lead to unnecessary stress.

Remember, patience is part of the process.

Tips:

Write down affirmations like, “My body is capable”, ”my time will come” or “I trust the timing of my journey.” Put them somewhere that you’ll see daily.

8. Focus on Your relationship & plan for the future

Trying to conceive can sometimes overshadow your connection with your partner. Make time to nurture your relationship and enjoy each other’s company. If trying to conceive is taking longer than expected, having a plan can provide reassurance. Discuss next steps with your doctor, whether that’s further testing, lifestyle changes, or exploring fertility treatments

Tips:

Share your feelings openly and plan non-baby-focused activities to keep the romance alive.
Remember, you’re a team in this journey.
Approach each step as an opportunity to learn about your body and options.
Stay open to different paths that may lead to parenthood.

Leaving you with this:

The journey to conception can truly challenge your patience, but it also offers a chance for personal growth and to strengthen the relationship with your partner. By focusing on your health, happiness, and the present moment, you can navigate this path with grace and resilience.

Remember: Patience isn’t necessarily about waiting passively—it’s about finding peace while you wait. Trust in the process and know that you’re doing everything you can.

Have you navigated this journey or are currently on it? Share your thoughts or tips below—I’d love to read about it!