It is no secret that wedding planning can take a toll on a person. Whether you’re planning a big wedding or a smaller affair, there is much to be done by a hard deadline. You don’t want to look back at this time of your life and only remember the stress or countless hours of planning. You also probably would rather enjoy the festivities with a clean bill of health, untethered by ailments that can really take away from being fully present in the moment. We’ve rounded up a number of tips to help you stay healthy, so set aside some me-time for selfcare!
Boost Your Immune System
If you’d like to maintain your health, a good place to start is by focusing on optimizing your immunity. Ensuring certain nutrient-dense foods are a regular part of your diet can help boost your immune system. Citrus fruits are a well-known source of vitamin C and a go-to for many when they start to feel under the weather. Broccoli is another great source of essential vitamins. Steaming it up as part of a meal is a great way to get the most out of this cruciferous vegetable. Red peppers are packed with vitamin C and beta carotene, which can also contribute to healthy skin–a bonus for anyone getting ready to walk down the aisle.
Some people opt for dietary supplements like Airborne or Emergen-C to get these vitamins and immunity boosters. Although some people take these daily preventatively, they can be a great option, especially when you’re in a pinch and already feel like you’re coming down with something. Once you already feel like you’re getting sick, you’re not likely to feel up for grocery shopping and cooking up a meal of immunity boosters. You can skip the store altogether and have any number of get-well-soon items sent to your home, from soups to supplements. Get your over-the-counter medicine delivered so you can get to rest.
Don’t forget to hydrate! Whether you’re battling a cold or looking to be proactive, water is an essential part of our body and consuming it regularly helps keep us healthy.
Find Some Peace
When dealing with stress, it’s important to take time out of your day to find peace of mind and alleviate some of the weight it bears. Luckily there are many avenues people find comfort. Try out a few for yourself to see what you find most effective or maybe you’d prefer the variety.
Meditating is a great practice for anyone looking to deal with stress. Rather than jumping in on your own consider using a meditation app with recordings that will guide you through the process. With the option to even choose the voice that you’d prefer, you can truly customize your ideal meditation setting. Meditation can range from general mindfulness to targeting specific concerns you’re presently dealing with.
There are certain external elements that you can dabble with that provide stress relief. Some find peace in silence or relaxing sounds of nature, while others turn to aromatherapy or lighting candles. You can try combining these practices to amplify your you-time for maximum relaxation. A hot bath with scented candles and the soothing sound of the ocean or guided meditation with a lavender diffuser nearby.
Get Your Sweat On
Depending on your current routine, you might want to consider adding exercise to your day. To combat those feelings of stress you can add many different forms of movement that can result in the production of endorphins. These endorphins in turn act as a natural pain reliever among having many other benefits to your body.
Finding time to exercise doesn’t have to mean paying for a gym membership or attending a spin class at an allotted time. Going for a brisk walk is plenty to get your heart rate up and activate the positive effects of exercise. However, some studies suggest that the intensity of your physical activity correlates with just how much of these “feel-good hormones” your body produces. If you’re looking for a bigger pick-me-up you may want to consider trying out a more rigorous form of exercise.
Once you start carving out time in your day for movement not only will you notice the effect exercise has on your mood but you’ll start to notice other benefits as well. More energy, a boost in self-esteem, and a decrease in your body’s tension.
While adding any one of these activities to your routine will help you start to reduce your feelings of stress, consider switching it up from time to time. Taking care of yourself on an emotional and physical level is equally important. If you can find the time to focus on all these areas, your overall health will thank you!
