Even though being engaged and planning a wedding is “best year ever,” it comes with a ton of to-do’s that can boggle your mind, body and spirit. But staying mentally and physically healthy doesn’t have to be another thing you add to your wedding planning checklist. There are easy things you can fit into your daily schedule that will keep you happy, healthy, and ready for anything. Bonus? If you incorporate these 10 things into your life now, chances are you’ll keep them up long after you say “I Do.”
1. Set a Healthy Sleep Schedule
Staying up all night pinning your favorite wedding decor might sound like a good idea, but it’s the worst thing you can do. Studies have shown that the blue light from your phone suppresses melatonin, which keeps you from sleeping well and ultimately feeling refreshed, not to mention possible connections with diseases such as diabetes. The best thing to do? Start a sleep schedule where you try to go to sleep and wake up at the same time every day (even on the weekends). And as far as the blue light, aim to put down all your electronics 2-3 hours before bedtime.
2. Be Active Every Day
Whether you download a yoga app (we love Asana Rebel) and do your poses every morning, or go to your favorite spin class at night, doing something to get your blood moving and energize your mind and body will do wonders for you. Bonus? Studies show that exercise can help your skin not only look younger, but new research suggests it might even help reverse the aging process.
3. Schedule a Weekly Date Night
Do something fun to clear your mind each week, like going to a funny movie or comedy show. Want to stay inside on date night? That’s ok, too. Put on a great romantic comedy, unplug, and maybe even treat yourself to something delicious (hello, popcorn and dark chocolate). No matter your schedule or what you plan, just be sure to check in with each other, especially when wedding planning gets tough and you’re down to the wire.
4. Eat a Balanced Diet
One thing you definitely DON’T want to do? Deprive yourself to fit into your wedding dress. Instead, eat well-rounded, healthy meals that include proteins, complex carbohydrates, and healthy fats. While you don’t have to be a drill sergeant about it, just generally try to avoid processed foods (especially those with sugar) which can lead to high blood pressure, weight gain, dark circles, dull skin and more. This infographic shows all the things sugar does to your body. Oof.
5. Drink LOTS of water
You might think you drink a lot of water, but how much water you should be consuming isn’t the same for everyone. This nifty tool from Camelbak helps you figure out how much water you should drink per day based on your age, weight, activity and the outside temperature. Cool, right? Now go on, get drinkin’.
6. Probiotics
An easy way to stay healthy is to incorporate probiotics into your daily diet. Our favorites are foods such as yogurt, kombucha, sauerkraut and kimchi. These types of foods help with indigestion, energy, a stronger immune system, healthier skin and weight loss. We suggest finding your fave and trying to incorporate it into at least one meal a day.
7. Daily Meditation
Taking a few moments to decompress each day will help keep you sane. Even if you think regular meditation is silly, all it takes is 5 minutes to help center you and focus on the day ahead. Apps like Headspace make it easy to do no matter where you are (even at your desk!)
8. Taking Care of Your Skin
While you don’t want to start a brand new skincare routine a month before the wedding, if you have a few months to a year you’d be surprised at the results you can see. Things like at-home masks (or facials if you can splurge) and products with lactic acid (a natural exfoliant and wrinkle helper…try Good Genes by Sunday Riley!) will keep your skin refreshed and glowing week after week. And don’t forget about the rest of your body, too! Dry brushing is an amazing way to boost your circulation and get soft, silky skin.
9. Wash your Hands
Fall and winter brides,we’re especially talking to you! Nobody wants a cold (or worse…the flu!) on their wedding day, so washing hands to help keep germs at bay is key. In fact, hand washing can prevent about 20% of respiratory illnesses. Just make sure you’re sudsing up enough. It sounds crazy but we sing the “Happy birthday” song to ourselves twice to make sure we’re doing it for the right amount of time.
10. Treat Yourself to a Monthly (*INSERT YOUR FAVE THING HERE)
We all have something we love to treat ourselves to, and when you’re planning a wedding (or just living life in general) it’s always nice to take the time to take care of you. If you love a great massage, treat yourself to one. Maybe it’s a chocolate fudge cookie or an insanely good cupcake. Enjoy this time of your life in every way possible!
And one great thing to ALWAYS keep in mind? Ask for help when you need it! That’s the reason you have family, friends, and a bridal party. They are there to help you plan and take things off your plate when it all gets to be too much.
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