5 Ways to Reduce Pre-Wedding Stress
Relaxation isn't easy right now. You have been frantically shopping for bridal flowers, addressing wedding invitations, and interviewing caterers. In addition, you're juggling work and family obligations.
Research has shown that daily stress and anxiety help trigger high blood pressure, tense muscles, and headaches. Stress also suppresses your immune system, making you more likely to get sick. Fear not. There are simple ways you can relieve pre-wedding anxiety.
- Go for a walk. Exercise clears your mind and returns the body to a more healthful state. But you don't need to spend hours at a gym to gain the benefits of exercise; even a 10-minute walk can decrease anxiety.
- Call a friend. Friendship is as good for your health as it is for your spirit. Many experts list friendship as the key factor in getting through stressful times. "If you can learn to control the stress and speak to others about it, you become able to deal with a lot more," says Dr. Edward Callahan, a psychologist at the University of California at Davis.
- Give yourself 10 minutes a day-every day. Whether you need a nap, a bath, or a quiet place to read a book, make sure the time is spent doing exactly what you want to do. "Taking 10 minutes for yourself won't solve all of life's problems, but it gives you a chance to feel calmer and find clarity," says Jill Strawn, Ph.D., an assistant professor at the College of New Rochelle School of Nursing in New York.
- Laugh every day. Laughter initiates the release of beta-endorphins, those same natural relaxants that are released during exercise. Endorphins make you feel good and protect the immune system by decreasing cortisol, an immune system suppressor.
