Wedding blues got you down and in a negative mindset? You’re not alone. Research collected over the years suggests that planning a big event like a wedding can take a toll on a person’s mental state. From stress to anxiety to the desire to make it all go a specific way, you may find yourself overwhelmed by negative feelings during a time that is supposed to be happy. While it might be difficult to deal with, there’s a lot to be said for adopting the right mindset. Use these tips to stay positive and see what a difference it can make.
Be Realistic
Perhaps the best bit of advice you’ll receive while planning a wedding is to keep your goals realistic. While it might be exciting to try and plan an event that is as lavish as your dreams allow, you definitely will benefit from being practical about your expectations. For example, you can only control so much. If you want the day to go according to some script in your mind, then you are setting yourself up for disappointment. You need to accept that your wedding is only in your hands up until a certain point.
Slough It Off
An unforeseen problem like the news of bad weather on the day of your wedding or poor attitudes from some of your guests might cause internal conflict. However, you are never going to benefit from internalizing the frustrations put on you by others. Instead, learn to shake off whatever it is that is causing you momentary distress. Sure, it might be annoying to deal with rain on your big day, but are you going to let a little bit of water spoil all that you’ve put into the plan?
Some things will be easier to slough off than others. When you’re dealing with a problematic family member who wants to add his or her two cents to every decision you make, you may not be able to shrug it off with the same ease. For scenarios like this, try and work out a solution that will keep the effort you put in to a minimum while still helping you feel better about the situation.
Try To Smile
Did you know that smiling can actually help you feel better when you’re in a negative mood? When you smile, it activates the part of your brain that produces the hormones related to happy feelings. Though you may not be feeling your best, try smiling for a little while. As time passes, you will start to notice that your own mood has been improved somewhat. Your emotions are in your control to a degree, though it might not always feel that way.
The smaller irritations in life have a way of seeming less significant when you maintain the right attitude. While this action should never be a substitute for actually dealing with significant problems or bad thoughts, smiling through the small stuff that appears can do wonders for how you feel overall.
Confront Bad Thoughts and Keep a Good Mindset
Plenty of people give in when confronted with negative thoughts. Instead of challenging an idea, they will allow it to overcome them and dictate their decisions. If you’re stressed from planning a wedding, you may find yourself snapping at friends or acting out of character. This is likely due to the fact that you are not addressing your real thoughts or feelings about a specific situation. When confronted with negative thoughts, be sure not to push them away.
Keeping the right mindset can do wonders for your ability to feel your best when planning your wedding. Develop a strategy that you can repeat whenever you feel stressed and see how it changes your attitude overall.
To say that planning a wedding can be a major source of stress would be an understatement. There are so many details to attend to, and you want everything to be as you’ve dreamed. After all, your wedding day is the start of a major phase in your life and things should go down the way you want. Unfortunately, even the best-laid plans can experience hiccups and problems. The combined stress of wedding preparation and the desire to have a dream ceremony can bring out the worst in some people. Here are some tips to avoid becoming a “bridezilla.”
Understanding Bridezillas
It’s important to know the difference between having expectations and standards. Being a “bridezilla,” which is often a bride whose expectations and behavior seem so unreasonable to the point of being seen as monstrous. The word is a portmanteau of “bride” and “Godzilla,” a fictional monster. Although the term implies a bride, it’s possible for grooms as well as non-binary persons to exhibit this type of behavior. Given the right set of circumstances, anyone can be a bridezilla, even so-called polite and easygoing Canadians.
Prioritizing a Personal Perspective
Tying the knot is all about you and your partner. Keep in mind that although the day will matter to those who care about you, it won’t be quite as high a priority for others. Check your expectations. Your special day can’t matter as much to those invited to your wedding as it does to you. Maintaining this perspective can avoid drama, fights and other conflicts that may arise from unrealistic expectations. Because it’s all about you, don’t take on the stress of trying to live up to the opinions of others.
Delegating Responsibilities and Tasks
Trying to do and be everything is a fast ticket to a tailspin, or worse, a meltdown. Delegating tasks to others is one way to help reduce your stress. Do you really need to control everything or attend to every detail? Let your partner shoulder some of the responsibility. A bestie or close sibling or cousin can also be put in charge of certain aspects. Investing in a wedding planner can lighten this load. This professional not only has the knowledge to plan your big day but also has access to resources and suppliers that can help you realize your must-haves and non-negotiables.
Staying Grounded
Comparison is the thief of joy. When viewing celebrity weddings and other Instagram- and Pinterest-worthy ceremonial ideas, it’s easy to get caught up in trying to impress others with your nuptials. Practical, affordable and feasible choices can help lower your stress and that of everyone involved. A helicopter ride from your hotel to the wedding venue sounds great for a TV show, but is that realistic or reasonable for your big day? Don’t compare what you have to what others have done. Your marriage ceremony is a time to keep up with your spouse-to-be, not the Joneses.
Taking a Break
The pressure to get everything done within a timeframe can lead to your emotions running high. Sometimes you need to take a moment to catch your breath, reset and refocus. This goes hand in hand with delegating tasks. Keep in mind that as long as you and your partner make it to the wedding venue with an authorized officiant and the ones you love, you’re fine. Really, you are!
Marriage is an adventure. The joy of wedding planning is in anticipating the life ahead with the one you love. It’s critical that you have fun as you prepare to say “I do.” Your big day shouldn’t be something to dread. If you find yourself anxious instead of excited, it might be time to step back and rethink things. You don’t have to be a bridezilla or groomzilla to enjoy one of the best days of your life.
There are many natural ways to boost your immune system in this era of heightened anxiety.
These days, people are more focused on individual and public health than at any other point in recent history. While your own health will always be somewhat influenced by factors beyond your control like family history and genetics, there are certain steps that you can take to encourage better responses from your immune system. Best of all, most of these steps are not difficult. Changing your habits and focusing on your daily decisions will often yield the best results for your health and the success of your immune system.
Avoid Smoking and Excessive Drinking
It is no secret that smoking cigarettes is an unhealthy habit. Still, people can fall into the pattern for many different reasons, and plenty wish to quit without knowing how to find success. If you are someone who smokes, another reason to think about stopping is that it inhibits the way your immune system performs. Cigarettes contain so many deadly toxins, that the body needs to send agents to purify the blood after each puff. With your body focused on these actions, it might not have the available energy to combat a common cold or flu strain when exposed.
In addition, excessive drinking is notoriously bad for the performance of your immune system. Much like cigarettes, alcohol is essentially poison to the human body. To prevent the liquor from killing you, the liver acts as a way of safely passing it through the system. It can only do this in moderation, however. Excessive drinking puts a strain on your liver that easily compromises your entire immune system and makes it easier to contract an array of common illnesses.
Be Discerning With Supplements
Supplements might also be worth your consideration. However, you need to be wary. Most health supplements are not approved by the FDA, and the companies selling these products can only use anecdotal evidence in promoting the items. This means you can feel somewhat safe taking a vitamin C supplement, as this vitamin has been well researched and evidence suggests it is crucial for healthy immune function. Minerals and extracts with fewer scientific studies behind them, conversely, should be considered with caution. Some brands will use solitary studies to make product claims, which is not a wise way of gauging effectiveness.
Reduce Your Stress Levels to Give Your Immune System A Boost
Stress is another factor that can impact your immune system in a negative way. Multiple studies conducted over the years connect stress with immune activation and inflammation. What’s worse, feeling anxious or frustrated for too long can encourage insomnia. Failure to get proper rest compromises your immune system even more and can cause a bit of stress to manifest into actual illness. While it might not be simple, actively trying to reduce stress can help. Turn off the news, get away from social media, dedicate an hour a day to being alone, or find your own suitable way to decompress.
Practice Proper Hygiene
Washing your hands is always going to be your best defense when it comes to protecting your immune system. The more you wash, the less your system has to work to combat viruses and bacteria you come in contact with on a regular basis. Getting into the habit of showering or bathing immediately after work or being engaged in physical activity is also helpful. When the body is hot and sweaty, it creates the perfect environment for bacteria to invade and thrive. Hop in the tub and scrub it all away to stay fresh and feel your best.
While there are endless products on the market aiming to help you maintain your health, the best way to do this is usually through your daily habits. For additional advice, consult with your primary care physician and learn how you might be able to improve your current efforts.
Effectively combating stress during the wedding planning process is essential so that you remain healthy and keep your immune system strong.
Let’s face it: Wedding planning is both fun and stressful. You have budgets to follow, vendors to hire, deadlines to meet, and details to wrangle before you can pull your big day together. Illness makes achieving these goals more difficult, so it’s important to do what you can to remain healthy. Stress is often a contributing factor when we get sick, so combating stress can help you stay healthy in the months before you tie the knot.
Good or Bad Stress?
Medical professionals describe two types of stress: good stress and bad stress. The former, also called eustress, can prepare us to handle positive events and challenges. Healthline lists several examples, including starting a new job, having a child, purchasing a home, and of course, getting married. Nervous excitement is a telltale sign that you’re experiencing eustress, and the key is making it work for you. Healthline suggests getting regular exercise, trying new activities, and edging yourself out of your comfort zone. These practices can help you use the extra motivation and energy to accomplish your goals.
Stress and Your Health
When many people talk about stress and its negative impacts on health, they’re referring to distress. Canada.com’s body and health section mentions several common stress-related health issues such as sleep disturbances, fatigue, weakened immunity, mental health issues, and even heart disease. Distress also puts people at risk for gastrointestinal disorders, headaches, teeth grinding, strokes, and eating disorders.
Just like positive stress, the negative kind also manifests emotionally. It usually kicks in when we perceive that the demands on us are greater than our ability to handle them. We experience symptoms such as a faster heart rate and rapid breathing, but Mayo Clinicdescribes other physical responses such as blood sugar spikes, decreased hunger, and altered immune responses. When experienced repeatedly over a long time, it increases the probability of getting sick.
Tips for Combating Stress
Bad stress can come from many sources. Global News’ Meghan Collie reveals that workplace-related stress is so common that the World Health Organization considers job burnout as an official medical diagnosis. Planning a wedding can feel like a full-time job, especially with so many to-dos and deadlines. It, too, can lead to burnout for the same reason: the demands placed on us appearing greater than what we can handle.
Brides writer Stefania Sainato offers several useful suggestions for combating stress related to your nuptials. First, you and your partner should decide on the three most important aspects of your event and tackle those first. Deadlines are another stress-inducing detail, so set reasonable ones for completing items on your wedding to-do list. That means including some extra time for emergencies or other unexpected events. Getting assistance from friends, family, and wedding party members helps you feel less overwhelmed. Finally, consider hiring professional help if you’ve got room for it in your budget. A professional planner or day-of coordinator can also ease your load and accomplish some of your planning tasks.
Self-Care in Stressful Times
While you’re taking steps for better wedding planning and combating stress, don’t forget about helpful self-care practices. Sainato stresses the importance of taking a break. Stepping away from planning lets you clear your mind and enjoy some well-deserved downtime with friends, family, and your partner. Exercise can help you release some of your pent-up anxiety, so choose fun activities that match your physical abilities. In the meantime, be sure to get plenty of sleep and eat a well-balanced diet with a wide range of nutritious food.
Whether good or bad, planning a wedding can increase your stress levels. There’s no shame in feeling overwhelmed, but you do have ways of fighting back. Recognizing when you’re stressed out and taking steps to mitigate it will help you stay healthy before and after the big day.
Wedding blues got you down and in a negative mindset? You’re not alone. Research collected over the years suggests that planning a big event like a wedding can take a toll on a person’s mental state. From stress to anxiety to the desire to make it all go a specific way, you may find yourself overwhelmed by negative feelings during a time that is supposed to be happy. While it might be difficult to deal with, there’s a lot to be said for adopting the right mindset. Use these tips to stay positive and see what a difference it can make.
Be Realistic
Perhaps the best bit of advice you’ll receive while planning a wedding is to keep your goals realistic. While it might be exciting to try and plan an event that is as lavish as your dreams allow, you definitely will benefit from being practical about your expectations. For example, you can only control so much. If you want the day to go according to some script in your mind, then you are setting yourself up for disappointment. You need to accept that your wedding is only in your hands up until a certain point.
Slough It Off
An unforeseen problem like the news of bad weather on the day of your wedding or poor attitudes from some of your guests might cause internal conflict. However, you are never going to benefit from internalizing the frustrations put on you by others. Instead, learn to shake off whatever it is that is causing you momentary distress. Sure, it might be annoying to deal with rain on your big day, but are you going to let a little bit of water spoil all that you’ve put into the plan?
Some things will be easier to slough off than others. When you’re dealing with a problematic family member who wants to add his or her two cents to every decision you make, you may not be able to shrug it off with the same ease. For scenarios like this, try and work out a solution that will keep the effort you put in to a minimum while still helping you feel better about the situation.
Try To Smile
Did you know that smiling can actually help you feel better when you’re in a negative mood? When you smile, it activates the part of your brain that produces the hormones related to happy feelings. Though you may not be feeling your best, try smiling for a little while. As time passes, you will start to notice that your own mood has been improved somewhat. Your emotions are in your control to a degree, though it might not always feel that way.
The smaller irritations in life have a way of seeming less significant when you maintain the right attitude. While this action should never be a substitute for actually dealing with significant problems or bad thoughts, smiling through the small stuff that appears can do wonders for how you feel overall.
Confront Bad Thoughts and Keep a Good Mindset
Plenty of people give in when confronted with negative thoughts. Instead of challenging an idea, they will allow it to overcome them and dictate their decisions. If you’re stressed from planning a wedding, you may find yourself snapping at friends or acting out of character. This is likely due to the fact that you are not addressing your real thoughts or feelings about a specific situation. When confronted with negative thoughts, be sure not to push them away.
Keeping the right mindset can do wonders for your ability to feel your best when planning your wedding. Develop a strategy that you can repeat whenever you feel stressed and see how it changes your attitude overall.
To say that planning a wedding can be a major source of stress would be an understatement. There are so many details to attend to, and you want everything to be as you’ve dreamed. After all, your wedding day is the start of a major phase in your life and things should go down the way you want. Unfortunately, even the best-laid plans can experience hiccups and problems. The combined stress of wedding preparation and the desire to have a dream ceremony can bring out the worst in some people. Here are some tips to avoid becoming a “bridezilla.”
Understanding Bridezillas
It’s important to know the difference between having expectations and standards. Being a “bridezilla,” which is often a bride whose expectations and behavior seem so unreasonable to the point of being seen as monstrous. The word is a portmanteau of “bride” and “Godzilla,” a fictional monster. Although the term implies a bride, it’s possible for grooms as well as non-binary persons to exhibit this type of behavior. Given the right set of circumstances, anyone can be a bridezilla, even so-called polite and easygoing Canadians.
Prioritizing a Personal Perspective
Tying the knot is all about you and your partner. Keep in mind that although the day will matter to those who care about you, it won’t be quite as high a priority for others. Check your expectations. Your special day can’t matter as much to those invited to your wedding as it does to you. Maintaining this perspective can avoid drama, fights and other conflicts that may arise from unrealistic expectations. Because it’s all about you, don’t take on the stress of trying to live up to the opinions of others.
Delegating Responsibilities and Tasks
Trying to do and be everything is a fast ticket to a tailspin, or worse, a meltdown. Delegating tasks to others is one way to help reduce your stress. Do you really need to control everything or attend to every detail? Let your partner shoulder some of the responsibility. A bestie or close sibling or cousin can also be put in charge of certain aspects. Investing in a wedding planner can lighten this load. This professional not only has the knowledge to plan your big day but also has access to resources and suppliers that can help you realize your must-haves and non-negotiables.
Staying Grounded
Comparison is the thief of joy. When viewing celebrity weddings and other Instagram- and Pinterest-worthy ceremonial ideas, it’s easy to get caught up in trying to impress others with your nuptials. Practical, affordable and feasible choices can help lower your stress and that of everyone involved. A helicopter ride from your hotel to the wedding venue sounds great for a TV show, but is that realistic or reasonable for your big day? Don’t compare what you have to what others have done. Your marriage ceremony is a time to keep up with your spouse-to-be, not the Joneses.
Taking a Break
The pressure to get everything done within a timeframe can lead to your emotions running high. Sometimes you need to take a moment to catch your breath, reset and refocus. This goes hand in hand with delegating tasks. Keep in mind that as long as you and your partner make it to the wedding venue with an authorized officiant and the ones you love, you’re fine. Really, you are!
Marriage is an adventure. The joy of wedding planning is in anticipating the life ahead with the one you love. It’s critical that you have fun as you prepare to say “I do.” Your big day shouldn’t be something to dread. If you find yourself anxious instead of excited, it might be time to step back and rethink things. You don’t have to be a bridezilla or groomzilla to enjoy one of the best days of your life.
There are many natural ways to boost your immune system in this era of heightened anxiety.
These days, people are more focused on individual and public health than at any other point in recent history. While your own health will always be somewhat influenced by factors beyond your control like family history and genetics, there are certain steps that you can take to encourage better responses from your immune system. Best of all, most of these steps are not difficult. Changing your habits and focusing on your daily decisions will often yield the best results for your health and the success of your immune system.
Avoid Smoking and Excessive Drinking
It is no secret that smoking cigarettes is an unhealthy habit. Still, people can fall into the pattern for many different reasons, and plenty wish to quit without knowing how to find success. If you are someone who smokes, another reason to think about stopping is that it inhibits the way your immune system performs. Cigarettes contain so many deadly toxins, that the body needs to send agents to purify the blood after each puff. With your body focused on these actions, it might not have the available energy to combat a common cold or flu strain when exposed.
In addition, excessive drinking is notoriously bad for the performance of your immune system. Much like cigarettes, alcohol is essentially poison to the human body. To prevent the liquor from killing you, the liver acts as a way of safely passing it through the system. It can only do this in moderation, however. Excessive drinking puts a strain on your liver that easily compromises your entire immune system and makes it easier to contract an array of common illnesses.
Be Discerning With Supplements
Supplements might also be worth your consideration. However, you need to be wary. Most health supplements are not approved by the FDA, and the companies selling these products can only use anecdotal evidence in promoting the items. This means you can feel somewhat safe taking a vitamin C supplement, as this vitamin has been well researched and evidence suggests it is crucial for healthy immune function. Minerals and extracts with fewer scientific studies behind them, conversely, should be considered with caution. Some brands will use solitary studies to make product claims, which is not a wise way of gauging effectiveness.
Reduce Your Stress Levels to Give Your Immune System A Boost
Stress is another factor that can impact your immune system in a negative way. Multiple studies conducted over the years connect stress with immune activation and inflammation. What’s worse, feeling anxious or frustrated for too long can encourage insomnia. Failure to get proper rest compromises your immune system even more and can cause a bit of stress to manifest into actual illness. While it might not be simple, actively trying to reduce stress can help. Turn off the news, get away from social media, dedicate an hour a day to being alone, or find your own suitable way to decompress.
Practice Proper Hygiene
Washing your hands is always going to be your best defense when it comes to protecting your immune system. The more you wash, the less your system has to work to combat viruses and bacteria you come in contact with on a regular basis. Getting into the habit of showering or bathing immediately after work or being engaged in physical activity is also helpful. When the body is hot and sweaty, it creates the perfect environment for bacteria to invade and thrive. Hop in the tub and scrub it all away to stay fresh and feel your best.
While there are endless products on the market aiming to help you maintain your health, the best way to do this is usually through your daily habits. For additional advice, consult with your primary care physician and learn how you might be able to improve your current efforts.
Effectively combating stress during the wedding planning process is essential so that you remain healthy and keep your immune system strong.
Let’s face it: Wedding planning is both fun and stressful. You have budgets to follow, vendors to hire, deadlines to meet, and details to wrangle before you can pull your big day together. Illness makes achieving these goals more difficult, so it’s important to do what you can to remain healthy. Stress is often a contributing factor when we get sick, so combating stress can help you stay healthy in the months before you tie the knot.
Good or Bad Stress?
Medical professionals describe two types of stress: good stress and bad stress. The former, also called eustress, can prepare us to handle positive events and challenges. Healthline lists several examples, including starting a new job, having a child, purchasing a home, and of course, getting married. Nervous excitement is a telltale sign that you’re experiencing eustress, and the key is making it work for you. Healthline suggests getting regular exercise, trying new activities, and edging yourself out of your comfort zone. These practices can help you use the extra motivation and energy to accomplish your goals.
Stress and Your Health
When many people talk about stress and its negative impacts on health, they’re referring to distress. Canada.com’s body and health section mentions several common stress-related health issues such as sleep disturbances, fatigue, weakened immunity, mental health issues, and even heart disease. Distress also puts people at risk for gastrointestinal disorders, headaches, teeth grinding, strokes, and eating disorders.
Just like positive stress, the negative kind also manifests emotionally. It usually kicks in when we perceive that the demands on us are greater than our ability to handle them. We experience symptoms such as a faster heart rate and rapid breathing, but Mayo Clinicdescribes other physical responses such as blood sugar spikes, decreased hunger, and altered immune responses. When experienced repeatedly over a long time, it increases the probability of getting sick.
Tips for Combating Stress
Bad stress can come from many sources. Global News’ Meghan Collie reveals that workplace-related stress is so common that the World Health Organization considers job burnout as an official medical diagnosis. Planning a wedding can feel like a full-time job, especially with so many to-dos and deadlines. It, too, can lead to burnout for the same reason: the demands placed on us appearing greater than what we can handle.
Brides writer Stefania Sainato offers several useful suggestions for combating stress related to your nuptials. First, you and your partner should decide on the three most important aspects of your event and tackle those first. Deadlines are another stress-inducing detail, so set reasonable ones for completing items on your wedding to-do list. That means including some extra time for emergencies or other unexpected events. Getting assistance from friends, family, and wedding party members helps you feel less overwhelmed. Finally, consider hiring professional help if you’ve got room for it in your budget. A professional planner or day-of coordinator can also ease your load and accomplish some of your planning tasks.
Self-Care in Stressful Times
While you’re taking steps for better wedding planning and combating stress, don’t forget about helpful self-care practices. Sainato stresses the importance of taking a break. Stepping away from planning lets you clear your mind and enjoy some well-deserved downtime with friends, family, and your partner. Exercise can help you release some of your pent-up anxiety, so choose fun activities that match your physical abilities. In the meantime, be sure to get plenty of sleep and eat a well-balanced diet with a wide range of nutritious food.
Whether good or bad, planning a wedding can increase your stress levels. There’s no shame in feeling overwhelmed, but you do have ways of fighting back. Recognizing when you’re stressed out and taking steps to mitigate it will help you stay healthy before and after the big day.
