The latest wellness hacks to calm any pre-wedding jitters
It’s official – you’re getting married! Firstly: congratulations. Secondly, if you’re feeling anxious about the big day, pre-wedding jitters are something that almost every bride will experience. It will be the ‘best day of your life’, so they say, but after the champagne toasts and engagement celebratory bliss, among guest lists, seating plans, budget planning and venue choosing, it can feel far from being the most special day.
In a survey conducted by Zola, 96% of couples shared that they found planning their wedding stressful and unless you’re a professional event planner, chances are you’ve not organised anything on this scale before, so it’s no wonder it can be overwhelming. But there are a few ways to help calm those nerves and put you back at the forefront of your big day; read on to discover the small tweaks you can make, and enjoy reaping the benefits.
Build a self-care routine
That feeling that you get when you come out of a luxury treatment or spa day? It’s not too hard to recreate at home, with a little imagination. Try inputting a routine that makes you feel good, and carving out a structure for some ‘me time’ each day. Here are three tricks to try that beauty insiders swear by:
Firstly, body brushing is a beauty editor favourite, known to boost circulation, encourage lymphatic drainage and, in turn, reduce cellulite. Kate Shapland, founder of Legology, advocates two minutes a day, before a shower, using swift upward motions across your body.
Secondly, are you into multi-masking? Now, no mask can replicate the glow-giving ability of a professional facial, but using targeted masks in the areas your skin needs can help deliver a high-concentration of nutrients in a matter of minutes. Areas of dullness? Try a Vitamin C mask such as Murad’s Vita-C Triple Exfoliating Facial. Areas of congestion? You’ll want a mask formulated for blemished skin, such as 111SKIN’s Microbiome Blemish Mask. Skin on the dry side? Skinceuticals Hydrating B5 mask is like a big glass of water for your complexion.
Thirdly, run a bath and breathe in. The power of aromatherapy shouldn’t be underestimated. But oils have come a long way since lavender oil for sleep. Aromatherapy Associates’ bath oils are the companion you’ll find yourself not being able to submerge without. They are, as their names suggest, supporting, relaxing and reviving, with different blends to complement your mood. Pour a capful into your palms, breathe deeply, and lather over your chest before sinking into the tub.
Utilise notes
The caterers, the guests, the music, the rings, the invitations… the list can seem endless. Having a notebook on hand, or using a note app on your phone, to write down the latest idea that’s popped into your head, or that school friend you missed that you really must invite, will mean the thoughts are safely documented and ready to revisit, rather than buzzing around in your head.
Indeed if your worries seem overwhelming, keeping a ‘worry diary’ is a well-known practice used in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, with the idea that physically writing your thoughts on paper and being able to objectively think about them can help break the never-ending cycle.
Fuel up
The temptation may be to eat as little as possible in the run up to your big day (let’s just get one thing straight – you do not need to lose weight for your wedding), but restriction can lead to a rather unhappy mindset. Our guts are intrinsically linked to our brains, with some experts referring to it as the ‘second brain’, which explains why many of us suffer stomach troubles when feeling anxious. But while our mood can affect our digestion, what we put into our stomachs can have an effect on our mood too.
A good place to start is filling your diet with brain-boosting foods, such as oily fish high in omegas like salmon and tuna, berries, bananas, oats and even dark chocolate, all of which are said to have mood-boosting effects, too.
Supplements can also help inject that extra helping of energy but rather than emptying the shelves of every potion on offer, it’s best to get professional guidance. The Harrods pharmacy is packed with all kinds of options – ask to speak to Sarina, the resident pharmacist, who will be able to set you up for a spring in your step.
Open your ears (and your mind)
There are apps aplenty claiming to help soothe stress, but find the right one for you and they are worth their weight in gold.
Calm deserves a mention for its plethora of ‘switch off’ options from sleep stories to help you slip into a slumber to timed breathing exercises and atmospheric soundtracks of stirring jungles and babbling brooks. If you struggle to concentrate on listening alone, then the mindful stretching work is brilliant, too. You can schedule a daily check in at a time that works for you – whether that’s waking up 10 minutes earlier to get in a quick session or as time out mid-afternoon.
Similarly, a next-generation innovation in noise therapy, Wavepaths provides adaptive music as psychedelic therapy, the idea behind the app is that listening to particular music can help relieve symptoms of depression and anxiety. Following an initial testing phase, 88% of users said they felt calmer after using the app.
And finally, if you are feeling especially overwhelmed, always seek advice from your GP.