You’re planning the wedding of your dreams and you should be on cloud nine. But instead of feeling the thrill, you’re stressed to the max by all you have left to do.
If you give yourself a little TLC, then planning your wedding will become a welcome challenge, and not a series of problems. Follow these four strategies to help you decompress, and recapture that wedding bliss.
Soothe Your Body and Mind
• Take a stress-formula supplement. Choose one with all the B-vitamins, plus minerals like magnesium, iron, potassium and zinc. Some contain gingko, which helps increase blood flow to the brain.
• Walk your tension away. Even a 30 minute stroll just three times a week will do the trick.
• Explore aromatherapy. Lavender, chamomile, clary sage or lemon can be calming. Light an aromatherapy candle, or add some aromatherapy beads to your bath and listen to a relaxing CD.
• Sleep easy. Stay away from caffeine after dinner: drink chamomile tea instead. Try herbal remedies or supplements specially formulated to help you rest.
Pamper Your Skin
• Treat yourself to a monthly facial.
• Stay hydrated. Drink six to eight glasses of water each day.
• Exfoliate regularly to remove skin-cell buildup.
• To dry out pimples, use a product containing zinc oxide.
• If you have dark circles under your eyes, try an overnight cucumber eye mask.
• Get a glow on with a glycolic peel every six weeks, and set up an appointment for a week before your wedding.
Salvage Your Hair
• Ask your stylist for a scalp massage. It’s relaxing and helps promote blood circulation that results in healthier, shinier hair.
• Treat yourself to a deep oil treatment for extra shine and vitality.
• To achieve instant sheen—and a psychological lift—opt for a gloss. This is applied like colour, but there are no chemicals.
• Book a run-through with your stylist a month before your wedding, so you know what to expect.
• Have colour done a week before the ceremony, so you won’t have to worry about your roots showing.
Sustain Your Spirit
• Take a breath break. First decide how long you want it to take; then release all thoughts and be present with your breath. You are One.
• Sit in a relaxed, upright posture, hands resting on your knees. Experience yourself as present in the room; you can note sounds and smells, but don’t think about them. If you keep your eyes open, rest them on a neutral surface like a blank wall. Feel your feet on the floor, and the contact of your body with the chair.
• Don’t change your breathing or think about it. Stay with your direct physical experience.
• When thoughts or feelings distract you (as they will), notice them, but turn your attention back to your breath. It’s not necessary to stop or change your thoughts. Feel each breath as though for the first time. You will notice immediate relaxation.
• Practice often. Five mindful breaths can rejuvenate you during work—or any time you choose.