Planning a wedding is, by most accounts, a grueling process. This can lead to severe stress, anxiety and exhaustion. In this mayhem leading up to what will likely be the happiest day of your life so far, can make it hard to remember what you're really working toward. It can also be really easy to forget to take care of yourself. It's so important to take a step back every once and a while to cool down, take a breather and RELAX! Here are some tips to try when you're ready to take that break.
1) Get a workout in
People say that excercise is the best medicine, and I for one, cannot stress enough how true that is. Working out changes your entire mindset, even if you only do it every once and a while. Studies show that exercise reduces stress and anxiety while releasing dopamine to improve your overall mood. There are a lot of couples these days that do workouts the day OF their wedding just to soothe some of the jitters, so next time you're feeling like you're about to lose it - go for a walk or jog!
2) Try journaling
Okay, so maybe journaling will make you feel like your angsty pre-teen self again, but I swear it helps. Writing down how you feel - every gritty, frustrated detail of it, helps to release a lot of those emotions. It's a private, safe outlet for you to be completely honest. If you're having a tough time working with a family or friend but don't want a conflict or you are just overwhelmed and don't know how to juggle all the thoughts in your head, simply writing them down forces you to let those feelings and thoughts out. By writing, you also can take a step back from your stress and really take the time to recognize what's impacting you the most.
3) Get pampered
Pampering yourself is an ideal way to relax. Take an hour or two just to yourself, or grab your girlfriends, and go get a pedicure or a massage! You are the one getting married, you deserve to be taken care of too! Carve out time to have a little fun so you can take a break from all the planning minutia.
4) Delegate, delegate, delegate
While you are already a force of nature by simply taking on the herculean task of planning a wedding, you are not Superwoman or Superman. You can't do everything alone and guess what? No one wants you to! Your fiance, friends, family and wedding planner (if you have one) are all resources for you to use when things get overwhelming (which they will.) Don't forget that it's okay to ask for help, in fact, it's encouraged.
5) Have a romantic night out with your fiancé
You guys are getting married! You're in love! Go out there and enjoy it! Go to a dark movie theater and makeout. Go to a fancy restaurant and have some wine! Whatever it is that fits you both as a couple, take the time to do things together. Planning the most romantic day of your life shouldn't remove the romance from your daily life. Enjoy being engaged and don't make planning a wedding take over you're life as a couple.
6) Meditate
So maybe you don't think meditating is for you because perhaps you think meditating is when you deeply moan "Om" over and over again. Well thats not the case - seriously, hear me out on this one. Meditating is when you simply take the time to sit down alone and take a deep breath. It's a time to enjoy the quiet and it's a way to get back in tune with your body. Breath in through your nose and out with your mouth. Focusing on your breathing rather than all the thoughts in your head, allows some reprieve from the hundreds of details you're probably trying to balance and make sense of.
Photos courtesy of Flow Photo, Tosca Reno, Two-Ology, Fit Life TV, Hailey Tash Photography