By: Sheila Olson of fitsheila.com
As a bride-to-be, you’re pulled every which way when preparing for your big day. You’ve set off to find the perfect venue, dress, invitations, caterer, and performer. However, somewhere down the line you may have forgotten about your own health. The last thing you want is to neglect your well-being and end up with a runny nose or tired eyes in your wedding photos. Rid yourself of some stress and enjoy your day to the fullest by following these simple steps to get your health back on track.
Have Your Cake (Tastings), But Eat Healthy Food, Too
One of the easiest ways to take care of yourself is to be aware of what you’re consuming. Among other benefits, eating healthy foods on a regular basis will help you stay sharp during the wedding planning and on your big day.
Aside from improved cognition and possibly losing a few pounds while eating a cleaner diet, you also can experience a boost in your immune system, energy and mood. So, feel and look your best by changing your eating habits and not relying on a fad diet. Eating more of the good stuff, like whole foods and proteins, and tossing the junk food will make it easier for you to feel better in a number of ways. Try sticking to a meal plan to help you stay on top of your health goals and avoid the hassle of preparing your meals every day.
Supplement your diet with a multivitamin to ensure you’re getting all the nutrients you need. As long as the multivitamin you choose uses bioavailable forms of key nutrients (meaning your body will absorb them well), your gut health, energy levels, and just about every aspect of your health can improve, helping you look and feel your best on your wedding day.
Commit to Better Time Management
You probably started planning things as soon as you said ‘yes,’ and possibly beforehand. With all the appointments and decisions to make, your calendar can appear overwhelming. Write down everything that you have left to do, then set deadlines for each task. It’s tempting to stay up all day and into the night to get one more item completed, but don’t deprive yourself of sleep in order to complete a task. Sleep deprivation is detrimental to your physical and mental well-being, and it can even age your brain, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine. As long you plan while you’re ahead and define time limits for each list item, you can avoid sleepless nights.
Find Ways to Relax
There’s nothing wrong with getting help from the people you love who want to support you. Give some of the tasks on your to-do list to friends and family, and take back some free time for yourself to do with as you wish. Relax and unwind in whatever way works best for you. A healthy way to relax is to simply move your body. Go out for a quick walk around the block, or visit your favorite hiking trail. No matter how small the movement is, exercise is one of the simplest ways to get a boost of endorphins.
Some people find that eating out with friends or simply watching TV is the best way to unwind from wedding planning. However you decide to relax, don’t feel like you’re wasting time that could have been spent planning for the big day. Every bride-to-be needs some time off to stay healthy and sane. You and your partner did not agree to get married just to throw a big party. You both agreed to a union because you’re committed to one another. By prioritizing your health, you’ll not only show up to the union feeling great, you’ll have a better handle on all the logistics leading up to the big moment.