• SKY Staff

7 Ways to Reduce Stress Before the Big Day

Nothing in this world is more important than your mental health, no matter what anyone else tells you. It affects how we think, feel and act. It also determines how we handle stress, relate to others and make choices. Making decisions about your big day is hard enough, why make it more stressful than it already is?

Read on for our tips on being in the right state of mind throughout the planning process.

1. SLEEP- Stress and sleep can be a vicious cycle, the less sleep you get the more stressed you are, the more stressed you are the less sleep you get. Quick tips to help you sleep are putting away the technology before bed, blue light has been known to stimulate the brain. Before you hit the sheets, taking 30 minutes to move your body- whether a brisk walk or light jog, will do wonders. Exercise is a stress reliever, and a sleep inducer. Read more about tips to get more sleep before the big day here.

2. Achievement Journal- Every night before going to bed make a list of all you got accomplished that day and how you achieved it. You'll focus a lot more on what you've done and how far you've come rather than what you still have to do.

3. Show Some Love- Take a night away from all the planning and the stress of your color scheme and decor options and spend time with your partner! You don't have to do anything fancy (although if that's your style, go for it) simply snuggling up on the couch and watching a movie together will release all the feel good chemicals in your brain that you need.

4. Disconnect! From the demands of your mother-in-law, social media, emails, whatever it may be - it's not helping. Get out in nature, clean your house, read a new book. Not only will it help you sleep better but it will clear your mind and readjust your focus to what really matters - what YOU want (and your partner).

5. Dance it Out- Dancing reduces levels of cortisol, the stress hormone, and increases endorphins, feel good chemicals in your brain. Plus dancing alone, or with your partner in your kitchen is way more fun than Hint: kill two birds with one stone by dancing for a half hour. (see # 1)

6. Spend Time With Your Dog - Spending time with your dog also lowers cortisol as well as boosts Oxytocin, feelings of happiness. Don't have a dog? volunteer at a local shelter- the more we give the happier we feel plus who doesn't enjoy spending time with dogs?

7. As for planning...if it is still not done two weeks before the wedding, do not worry about it!