Weddings are notorious for making even sweet brides feel crazed, and it’s not hard to see why. From the dress to flowers and guest lists to the latest family squabble, there’s a lot to coordinate before you get married. Stress and sleeplessness just seem to come with wedding preparation. However, getting more sleep is more important to a successful wedding than you might think. A full night’s rest, that’s seven to eight hours, not only gives you time to heal and recharge but keep you looking your best.
Effects of Sleep Deprivation
Lack of sleep does more than make you a little drowsy. Your immune system doesn’t have time to heal nor does it have time to recharge itself, which means you’re more likely to get sick and stay sick longer. The neurons in the brain slow down too, leading to short-term memory loss, lack of decision-making abilities, and reduced reasoning skills. And, it can lead to mood changes, including increased aggression, which is definitely not what you need before a wedding.
Also, sleep deprivation causes changes in appetite control. When you’re tired, the hunger hormone ghrelin gets released in larger amounts while the satiety hormone leptin gets released in smaller amounts. You’re left fighting hunger, potentially overeating, and facing unwanted weight gain. Nearly a third of brides stress about their appearance. Sleeping well can help you feel more confident on your wedding day.
3 Ways to Deal with Stress
Coping with stress in healthy ways allows you to keep perspective, make critical wedding decisions, and remember the most important thing about your wedding—your relationship with your future spouse. Alleviating stress also allows you to get the rest you need.
1. Put Your Worries to Paper
If you’re worried about the flowers getting delivered or your crazy Uncle Irwin hitting on your fiance’s cousin, take a deep breath and write it down in a journal. Sometimes putting the words on paper allows you look at your worries in a new way. Maybe you’ll be able to find some humor in the situation or you might start to see new solutions to some of your problems. You can also use a journal to list the endless number of tasks you need to do. Writing them down enables you to sleep knowing you won’t forget.
2. Yoga and Meditation
Yoga and meditation work together to relax both the mind and body. Regular yoga, as little as 12 minutes a day, helps block the release of the proteins that cause inflammation, which can be brought on by stress. Mindfulness meditation, one of the most relaxing, meditative methods, uses deep breathing and guided imagery to help control stressful thoughts and bring your heart rate down. The best part—they can be done before bed as part of a bedtime routine. In fact, you can do a couple of relaxing yoga poses followed by meditation while lying in bed to help you drift off to sleep.
3. Create a Relaxing Atmosphere
Sometimes you need a place that’s free from wedding stress, like a bedroom that acts as your personal sanctuary. To sleep well and feel your best, be sure to check your mattress to make sure that lumps or sags aren’t disturbing your sleep during the night. The bed should match your preferred firmness, whether that’s soft like a memory foam mattress or firmer, like an innerspring. If you live in an area with light pollution, blackout curtains or heavy drapes can keep light (and sound) out. Everything in the room should help relax you, even the artwork, the comfortable bedding, and the plush pillows. Try to incorporate natural elements like wood, houseplants, or photos of the outdoors to bring in the inherent serenity of the outdoors.
Ellie Porter
Managing Editor | SleepHelp.org
ellie@sleephelp.org
