Your wedding day is supposed to be a magical time filled with joy. A time where you revel in the bliss of proclaiming your love in front of your nearest and dearest.
While it’s usually hailed as one of the best days, the lead up to saying ‘I do’ can be stressful. It’s the equivalent of being a full-time event planner with no experience and a limited time frame. Often coupled with working your usual full-time job – enough to transform the most placid person into bridezilla.
With this year’s wedding season upon us here are some tips to de-stress that may come in handy:
Identify the triggers
Recognising what is making you stressed is an important step in managing your stress levels. Whether it’s the in-laws, managing the timeline of the day, budgeting or finding the perfect dress. While you may not be able to remove the stresses from the situation knowing what is causing you stress makes it much easier to manage and react accordingly.
Remember that there are people there to support you who you can lean on to help manage stressful situations. If it’s people causing you stress, call on those bridesmaids to act as a buffer. If it’s the budget, sit down and work out a payment plan – often just putting thoughts on paper can help. Once you’ve identified your stress triggers you can easily ask for help to manage the situation.
Exercise
We all know that exercise is good for our body and mind but when we’re snowed under with wedding planning it can be difficult to find the motivation to get moving.
Virtually any form of exercise can act as a wonderful stress reliever and increase your overall sense of well-being. Physical exercise releases endorphins, feel good hormones, which can help combat stress. Concentrating on moving your body and connecting to your breath during exercise can also help you forget the days stresses.
Eat a balanced diet
Nourishing your body with wholesome foods can help give you the energy you need to tackle all that wedding planning throws your way. Many of us crave sweets and carbohydrates when we’re stressed or anxious. It’s thought that consuming these foods helps boost serotonin levels, offering a calmness and relaxation.
If that choc chip cookie is going to help provide some momentary relief then by all means treat yourself! But remember to keep your diet balanced. Consuming the recommended amounts from each food group is important to maintaining overall health.
Sleep well
Stress can have a huge impact on our quality of sleep. It’s a necessary function which allows our bodies and brains to recharge and rest. When we’re tired we are less patient and easily agitated, when dealing with wedding prep this can increase stress.
In the lead up to your big day ensure you’re getting enough beauty sleep, most adults require 7-9 hours of sleep per night. If you’re struggling to drift off to sleep at night try these tips:
- Begin relaxing and winding down 1 – 2 hours before bed.
- Don’t consume caffeine after midday.
- Unplug from devices at least 30 minutes before bed.
- Take a relaxing bath.
- Focus on your breathing.
Meditate
Meditation can be a great way to relax and help ‘switch off’ any stressful thoughts you may have. While it may feel foreign the first time, regularly practising meditation can help lower your heart rate, blood pressure and improving cognitive performance.
Meditating for as little as 10 minutes can offer a host of benefits for stress relief. There are plenty of apps to help you get started. Here are some tips for beginners:
- Find a comfortable and quiet place.
- Sit or lay down in a comfortable position.
- Close your eyes and relax your muscles.
- Check in with how you are feeling.
- Count your breaths and focus on breathing.
- If your mind begins to wander come back to counting and focusing on your breath.
The most important thing to remember is that, regardless of how well you plan, something is bound to go wrong on the day. Embrace it, don’t fear it! At the end of the day you are still marrying the love of your life and celebrating with your family and friends.
