How to Calm Down During Wedding Stress
When preparing for a new life as a couple, many brides and grooms set exceedingly high expectations for their wedding. These extraordinary demands, coupled with the inherent challenges of hosting a large-scale event, result in high levels of stress. Calming yourself down while you are experiencing wedding stress can be difficult, but setting realistic expectations for the big day -- well before the wedding -- will help keep stress to a minimum.
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Instructions
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Turn off you cell phone and your computer for 30 minutes. Allowing yourself a half-hour of quiet time to gather your thoughts can reduce stress significantly. Enjoying a few peaceful minutes to write a list, take a few deep breaths and review what you have accomplished is virtually impossible when you're obsessively checking your email inbox or when your phone keeps ringing. Use the time to review wedding tasks and accomplishments, or steal a quick break from wedding chaos. Take care of yourself emotionally and mentally in whatever ways are effective for you, be it meditation, writing or catching a quick power nap.
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Schedule a date with your fiance and leave the subject of the wedding off the table. The relationship between you and your husband-to-be is more important than the wedding; spending time alone with him will remind you of why you are getting married in the first place. Go out to dinner, see a movie, take a walk in the park; whatever you do, take time to connect with each other and revel in the fact that you are in love. The simple act of reaffirming your love for each other will help reduce stress. If you need to calm down quickly and cannot fit a date into your day, take a few minutes to write him a brief note that tells him why you love him and how happy he makes you. The simple act of jotting down your feelings will help calm your stress.
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Maintain a balanced diet and lifestyle in the weeks leading up to your wedding. Many brides choose to "crash diet" before the big day with the hope of looking svelte in their wedding dress. While eating large amounts of high-fat processed foods will wreak havoc on your body chemistry and cause mood swings, drastically reducing your calorie intake and depriving your body of nutrient-rich foods will have the same effect. Eat at least three times a day and include a whole grain, lean protein and fruit or vegetable in each meal. Also, have a snack like fruit or a granola bar on hand to ward off any dips in your blood sugar level.
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Tips & Warnings
If wedding stress is causing you severe anxiety or panic attacks, speak with a therapist, pastor or marriage counselor. Any uncertainty about marrying may manifest itself as extreme stress over wedding details.
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