We all go through periods in life when we have more things to do than hours in the day. Stressful times might last for a couple of weeks, but if you’re planning a wedding, that time of tension may be much longer. In fact, many brides (30%) spend seven to 12 months planning their weddings.
An extended period of stressful preparations will take its toll on nearly any couple. Beat the pre-wedding blues with some exceptional self-care routines. Use the following tips to manage your emotional and mental health as your big day approaches:
Step 1: Care for Your Physical Health
According to Brides, caring for your physical health is one of the most important ways to relieve pre-wedding anxiety. Specifically, cardiovascular exercise, like running, biking, or swimming can get your blood pumping with feel-good hormones. Overall, getting enough sleep, eating the right food, and working out when you can will have a positive impact on your emotions and stress levels before your marriage.
Step 2: Make Time for Intimacy
In the hustle and bustle of wedding preparations, many soon-to-be-spouses actually grow more distant. Losing your connection with your partner can create damaging pre-wedding doubts. Take time to foster intimacy in your relationship, even if it’s just a night spent a home snuggling, or a few “sweet nothings” like writing your partner a kind note.
Step 3: Let Things Be Imperfect
Another key step towards mental and emotional balance during wedding preparations is allowing yourself room for mistakes. Though you may want all of your wedding dreams to come true, try to recognize that the details aren’t always important. Even if the reception and ceremony don’t go exactly as you may have hoped, remember to have fun and focus on the love in your relationship. As they say, the perfect is the enemy of the good. Aiming for perfection will make your decisions more difficult and time-consuming, so just try to find food, vendors, and a venue you’ll like, and move on to the next step of the planning process.
Step 4: Get Professional Help
Don’t hesitate to reach out to a counselor or therapist before your wedding day. Seeking professional guidance is a great way to practice communication and stress-management skills. In fact, according to BYU psychology professor Scott Braithwaite, studies show that premarital counseling decreases the likelihood of divorce by 50%. Taking the time to acknowledge and address anxiety, tension, or conflict in your engagement can help you manage them throughout your marriage.
A person’s engagement is a busy and exciting time, but it is also riddled with many emotions, including fear, worry, and doubt. Practice these emotional health tips to handle pre-wedding emotions with grace, for a happier wedding day and a more peaceful marriage.
