BRIDAL STRESS | HOW TO MANAGE AND TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF

Whether you're planning your wedding or planning your week, taking care of yourself is a MUST. 

Yes, looking and feeling good on your wedding day is important, but it's also important to live fit beyond your big day, too. Life can seem overwhelming at times so having a good self-care routine can make all the difference between handling stress like a queen...and handling it like a crazed cast member on one of those "house wives" reality shows - not a good look, beautiful.



STRESS IS THAT FEELING YOU HAVE WHEN YOU'RE UNDER PRESSURE

Technically, stress is how your body reacts to anything your body experiences as a demand for change. So anything that's challenging or threatens your "zen" is stress. Driving through traffic on your way to your bridal fitting, being late for an appointment with the caterers, meeting the new in-laws, even rushing to the gym for your Fit Bride workouts all create demands that your body reacts to both physically and mentally. How you perceive that stress, however, depends on how well you're able to cope. That's why two people can be in the very same situation and one stays totally calm while the other appears totally freaked out.

DON'T FREAK OUT

There's no way around it - stress is a fact of life. But, that's not automatically a bad thing. Often we experience the most growth from how we handle the things that stress us because they can also stretch us. Learning how to deal with and cope with stress can teach us to not only to handle more, but also to accomplish more not just with personal goals, like your wedding, but professional and business-oriented goals as well. So, while you're busy planning your wedding it's also a good time to consider how you handle stress and to create a healthy self-care routine so you can manage and even reduce stress like a boss.

1. Begin each day with quiet time. Spend at least 5-10 minutes in silence. Set good intentions for yourself. Think about the things that you're grateful for and create positive thoughts for yourself and others. This is a great time to set goals for the day and to make or review your daily to-do list.
2. Stay hydrated. Your body needs water. Not soda, not juice, or even coffee - though some might find that debatable. Giving your body the water it needs not only to survive, but to thrive is actually giving yourself a small act of kindness. Fortunately for us, that act of kindness also comes with tons of thank-you benefits, too, like clearer skin, increased mental focus, greater endurance, better athletic performance and a higher fat-burning metabolism. And you deserve all that, beautiful.
3. Move your body. Unfortunately we tend to spend entirely too much of our day sitting. In addition to and all that sitting can cause a build up of tension and tightness. Staying active and exercising can not only relieve that tension, it can also help you create a strong, healthy, sexy bridal body. More over, a good stretch is a good way to relieve tension and it also helps to improve your flexibility so you feel good doing the things you want to do, like having fun on your honeymoon - uh hem, parasailing and stuff. 
4. Manage your expectations. This is a big one! Like most brides, you probably have a vision for your wedding. That's fine, but there's no need to approach it like a military campaign. You haven't recited the soldier's creed after all - always place the mission first, never accept defeat. No, this is supposed to be your celebration of LOVE and the beginning of your happily ever after. Don't let that get lost in the details. Yes, there's a lot to do - you may be meeting with the cake designer, the caterers, dropping off a venue payment and lunching with your bridesmaids - all in one day, but you can still have fun and enjoy the process. Delegate where you can and don't let challenges to your vision keep you from having fun and enjoying the process. Be flexible and go with the flow.
5. Breathe. Underrated, but super powerful, a few deep breaths can do wonders for your psyche and help to calm your nerves. While there are a number of relaxational breathing techniques abdominal breathing, otherwise known as belly breathing, is a good way to tell your body to calm the heck down, reducing tension and calming those anxious feelings that could be building up as you plan your wedding (and beyond). 
   
   Try this: place one hand on your belly and the other on your chest. Breathe in slowly through your nose, allowing your belly to expand, then exhale slowly. Continue for 1 or 2 minutes or until you feel more calm.

Remember, you're marrying the love of your life, beautiful. While you may want your wedding to be memorable and to be gracious towards your guests, you won't be able to please everyone. Strive to enjoy this time as you journey towards your big day, and to set a tone of love and happiness that will last long after the festivities of the day are over. 

TO YOUR SUCCESS!

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What's next? 

• Getting married this summer or filling a bridesmaid spot yourself? Share the love and share this blog post with your bridesmaids!
• If you missed our previous PROJECT FIT BRIDE articles on how to get started on your wedding fitness journey -

BRIDAL FITNESS: THE NUMBER ONE THING YOU NEED TO DO TO GET FIT FOR YOUR WEDDING.

BRIDAL FITNESS: WHO'S ON YOUR #TEAMFITBRIDE?
BRIDAL FITNESS: 4 FIT MOVES EVERY BRIDE SHOULD MASTER.
BRIDAL FITNESS: HOW TO EAT LIKE A FIT BRIDE.

• Want more help putting together your plan for your Fit Bride journey? Download our new eBook PROJECT FIT BRIDE. We've put together this starter guide to give you more strategies and simple steps you can implement NOW. 

• If you need individual guidance creating your own wedding fitness success plan, CONTACT US at Wildfire Fitness to schedule your own brief complimentary phone consultation.

And remember, the sooner you start your bridal fitness countdown, the better!

To your success!