3 Tips to Reduce Stress When Planning Your Wedding
Wedding planning is a time in one’s life that is notoriously stressful. You are getting a lot of advice, solicited or not, and it feels like your to-do list is never ending. Be sure you’re taking some time to slow down and are focusing on what’s really important. A wedding is meant to be a celebration of your love and, as one half of the couple the event is intending to honor, you should be enjoying the engagement and festivities along the way. Try remembering these three tips, especially when you start to feel the many stressors of wedding planning, to bring yourself back into focus.

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- Exercise
There are a number of benefits to exercise, besides being a tried and true stress management tool. Not only can you relax through exercise, but many studies have determined people who exercise find themselves having a better sense of their body image and, with that, stronger feelings of confidence. When you exercise, your body is releasing chemicals to improve your mood and act as your body’s own painkillers. In addition, your body is subsequently reducing stress hormones. It makes sense that while you’re going through a long period of stress, you begin to institute a regular regimen of exercise in order to help you cope and help keep your mind at ease.

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- Treat Yourself
Everyone is different and has their own ideas of what “treating themselves” looks like. For some it might be the occasional indulgence in a mani-pedi, while for others it might mean a shopping trip. Consider taking time out of your busy schedule to invest in yourself. Try out a new mud mask and sit down with the book you haven’t found time for. Better yet, rather than getting cheap activewear that you’ll need to replace sooner rather than later, splurge on a durable and reliable brand to help motivate and enable you to take that plunge into exercising. If you’re worried about spending money while you’re planning your wedding, try your hand at thrifting and shop affordable Lululemon clothing on an online thrift retailer like thredUP. There is no better treat than being able to buy quality clothing you really want, without having to pay the full price.

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- Guilty Pleasure
Guilty pleasures; we all have them. Ask yourself what thing you love doing or watching, but you don’t always make time for, because there is something about it that makes you feel silly. It turns out, we don’t actually need to beat ourselves up about our addiction to ‘The Bachelor.’ Some studies actually suggest there is a restorative component to watching T.V. or movies. So go forth and engage in guilty pleasures, for no other reason than because they bring you joy and are not causing harm to anyone. Much like everything else in life, you can and should enjoy in moderation. Life is about striking a balance, and this includes finding time to indulge in your joys.
Happy Planning!