Why Investing In Your Well-Being, As Well As Your Wedding Day Is Important

from Love Our Wedding - March/April 2023

SPANAKOPITA PIES

by Victoria Morgan, The GLOW Coach

If you’re frantically planning your wedding right now, I know what an exciting time it can be but also that there is a less glamorous side that is rarely talked about....the stress, the disappointments, the dramas, the pressure to look a certain way and the emotional effects that all of this has on you as a Bride and perhaps even on you both as a couple.

At what is arguably the most important time of your life, I believe from my personal experience of a post-wedding burnout, that it’s a good idea to be thinking about investing in your holistic health, physically, mentally & emotionally, and not just how you would like to look on your big day but also how you want to feel, long into happily ever after.

Too many Brides and clients tell me that despite looking stunning, they didn’t feel it inside, they were lacking confidence, feeling nervous, anxious and worried how the day would turn out. I want you to know that this is all normal and there are simple steps you can take to prepare yourself and ensure you’re glowing from within, hair and make-up will just be the icing on the cake!!

Set boundaries

Set aside time that is just for you and your self-care, prioritise the things that make you feel good, this might be as simple as reading a book, cooking your favourite healthy weekly recipes, booking a yoga class, going for a daily walk in nature, or spending longer on your night-time skincare rituals. Plan an occasional date night where you and your partner talk about things other than your wedding - it can become all-consuming and overwhelming to talk about it 24/7 and it’s good to check-in with each other and remember that this is all about the bond between the two of you and your exciting future together. As far as possible, try to put yourself and your partner first when making choices and decisions about your health, the wedding day etc You might have to get comfortable with saying No if you find that others try to make decisions for you, or try to take over.

Downtime & beauty sleep

Sleep is the best natural beauty booster there is, so prioritise at least 8 hours if you can, if you’re not a good sleeper, or find yourself not sleeping so great as it gets closer to your wedding....there are lots of things you can do to improve sleep hygiene - ensure your bedroom is nice and cool (18 deg is ideal), turn off devices at least an hour before bedtime and dim the lights to support melatonin production (the body’s natural sleep hormone), try a short breathing exercise for a minute or two which will put your body in a calm state, activating the parasympathetic nervous system (the opposite of fight or flight mode, the stress response) Don’t underestimate the power of some time out just ‘doing nothing’ our minds need a break to recharge! Rest and tune in regularly to how your body and mind are feeling.

Handling stress or anxiousness

Stress raises our Cortisol levels (the body’s stress hormone) which is normal for short periods of time but left activated over longer periods, this can be extremely detrimental to our health & well-being.

There are many different ways you can lower your stress levels and what works for one person doesn’t necessarily work for another, so try some of these out and see what feels good to you.

Stress is an emotion and emotions are energy in motion, therefore often we need to move to gently ease the stress out of the body - this might look like going for a run or to the gym for you, or a gentle bit of stretching or walking will also work well.

At other times, finding stillness can really help, just take a few minutes to stop what you’re doing and tune into those feelings, breathing deeply - where do you feel them in your body, can you describe them? More often than not, just recognising and acknowledging them will help and in a few minutes they should pass. If meditation feels good to you, or a gentle yoga class, then this will work wonders for your mind and emotional state.

Another activity that can be hugely helpful for some is journalling, write out how you feel about a stressful situation, maybe talk it through with a friend or supportive family member and see if you can start to see it differently and in a more positive light - there is often a lesson, or silver lining.

Remember that as Women, our hormones naturally fluctuate and so we’re prone to feeling more stressed, or to have more negative thought patterns at certain times of the month, they do pass as our hormone levels rise again.

Establishing a morning wellness routine is a good way to build resilience, this doesn’t have to be complicated and if you’re short on time this could just look like a few minutes of journaling, stretching, meditation / breathwork, writing in a gratitude diary, or just applying a nourishing face-mask whilst taking a few deep breaths into your belly.

Consider seeing a health expert or Bridal Wellness Coach

There is so much confusing and conflicting wellness information out there, so together with a holistic Health Coach you can devise a personal wellness plan that’s bespoke to you, your goals & lifestyle but also to ensure you’re supported and guided throughout and that you have an accountability partner to keep you feeling empowered and motivated. From expert nutrition support, to working out a regular self-care plan, to boosting your emotional health, there are many reasons why you might want to seek professional support and invest in your health & well-being for the long-term, so you glow for that special day as a beautiful, confident, radiant Bride and long after! www.bryonybel.com

Victoria, The GLOW Coach, is an online Bridal Wellness coach on a mission to put health & wellness at the heart of the bridal experience. From her post-wedding burnout, to the long wellness journey that followed, including a 10-year career in the skin-health & wellness industry, to qualifying as a Women’s Health Coach, she is uniquely positioned to empower, support and guide brides on their journey to glowing from within. Follow Victoria @theglowcoach or email her at victoria@theglow.coach for more info and inspiration.