Helpful Advice For Coping With Your Wedding Anxiety

Let’s face it – most brides and grooms going into their wedding day feel a lot of nerves and are prone to anxiety attacks. It’s a stressful time! Anxiety is one of those things that we all have to deal with. The difference for some people is that it has a bigger physical and emotional impact than it does for others. Managing the anxiety levels you face on a daily basis can severely change the amount of time you spend dealing with your anxiety symptoms.  This guide is meant to provide a few good tips to allow you to cope with stress and by no means definitive mental health advice, for that please seek a licensed therapist or even consult with your primary care physician.

Focus your attention on the place where the anxiety is stemming from. You may feel this physically, and concentrating on it can reduce or eliminate it completely. If your attention starts to stray, just refocus yourself back to the place that is causing you anxiety for several minutes. If you do not put some type of positive interaction in between you and your anxiety, it will continue to grow. No matter what you decide to do, when an anxiety attack occurs, try remaining positive about everything that goes through your mind. When something negative occurs, turn it into something positive.

Becoming a busybody is a great way to get your anxiety levels back under control. Sitting around for the whole day causes you to think about your anxiety more. Simple things, such as cleaning the house or washing your car can really help. Stay busy; the more you have to do, the less time you will have to think about what might be bothering you in your life. You will be able to then set some time aside to figure out your issues, without constantly having to worry about them throughout the day.

Exercise is a great way to reduce your anxiety. When you work up a sweat at the gym or outdoors you just feel better about yourself. The more you get in shape, the less anxiety you’re prone to have as well. Consult with a doctor to see if your body can take some exercise, and then, get to it. Educate yourself on different types of beverages that can help you cope with anxiety. Some people report that chamomile tea is perfect for de-stressing. Try that kind of tea and see if it helps you de-stress.

If you start to have an anxiety attack while you are trying to sleep, respond immediately. Getting up and moving around, drinking a glass of water, eating an apple, or watching some television can help. Walking and moving around will make you feel tired and read for a good night of sleep. Learn to feel the anxiety in your body. Focus on where it is located, such as a tight chest feeling, and stay focused on it until the feeling dissolves. This may seem difficult at first, but with just a bit of practice you will be able to release anxious feelings within seconds or a few minutes.

Just follow some of the tips in this article and you would be surprised how quickly your mind will adapt. Remember, the wedding is a joyous occasion where you are celebrating your love and should not be looked at with dread. Be happy, be wise, and relax!

Five Holiday Shopping Tips

Hey there bridal beauties, tis the season of giving! The mall may be intimidating this time of year, so we have some survival tips for holiday shopping.

1.       Bring back up

Do you have that one friend that hates shopping or is short on time? Bring them. Have someone who can keep you focused on the task at hand. Remember- time wasted is time stuck in a crowded mall during the holiday season. It can get easy to get sucked in by all the holiday deals, so have someone who can keep you in check.

2.       Have a Plan

Take a note from the big guy in red and make a list (be sure to check it twice!). Have a clear goal in mind (all work presents, all family presents, etc.) before you hit the stores. If you know what someone likes, make a note next to their name (example: Andrea- chocolate) so if you see something fun, you can match it to the person. If you’re on a time crunch, make it a goal to complete as much shopping as possible. If you have certain stores you know you need to hit, park accordingly and work effectively. If you know you have to pick up some big things (like sheets or pillows- anything large you’d have to carry) park near that store first. You can either do that store and drop off things to your car, or do the rest of the mall and end in your big purchase store. If you have a set budget, keep that in mind by writing it on your list. Allotting yourself a set amount to spend on each person can help narrow down choices as well as keep you (financially) on track.

3.       Get it Done Early

You may have missed the window for Cyber Monday, but stores are still pushing deals. If you’re able to, go to a mall first thing on a weekday. Malls are going to be incredibly packed on Saturday and Sunday from weekend shoppers. Weekdays after about 5:30PM can get a little more crowded with the after-work shoppers. If you go shopping on say, a Tuesday at 11:30AM there shouldn’t be a crowd. Shopping is much less stressful when the lines are short and the aisles are easy to manage.

4.       Have a Plan B

If it’s getting towards the end of the day and you’re not seeing anything you love for that special someone, no worries. Grocery stores and general stores have gift cards for all sorts of vendors like movie theaters, online stores, and restaurants. Gift cards aren’t tacky, they’re practical. If you get frustrated with the mall, it’s okay. There are other options out there. Everyone can use a gas gift card or a target gift card, and will be able to use it. It may be handy to pick up a few as back up gifts for anyone who gets (accidentally) forgotten.

5.       BYOB

Don’t fall victim to the bag rip. Plastic bags that many stores have could rip and you know that will only happen at the most inopportune time. Some cities require retailers to charge for a plastic bag or takeaway bag for merchandise, and that’s money you shouldn’t have to spend. Keep a few reusable bags tucked away for your Christmas shopping and be free of the stress of shopping bags.

Four Tips on Planning a Memorable Wedding

Wedding Wednesday is here and we have some amazing wedding day tips to share.  When the advice from your friends and parents just isn’t what you’re looking for when planning a wedding, you need another source you can turn to for inspiration. So when you’re ready to have a great wedding, use the tips in today’s Wedding Wednesday  to guide you.

  • When sending out your wedding invitations, remember that it is your day, so avoid any person or combination of people that will ruin it in any way for you. It may be an insult to someone not to be invited, but if having them at your wedding will cause even the slightest of issues for you or your future spouse, it is really in your best interest to keep them off your guest list.

 

  • Have an unexpected twist at your wedding to make it more memorable. If you are planning to have your wedding during the summer, consider having a winter related theme. If your wedding is planned for the winter, you could try a beach theme. Guests will remember that your wedding theme was different from the actual season.

 

  • If you’ve been asked to photograph a wedding but are new to the job, your most important task it to create a shot list. Ask the couple what kind of photographs they would like you to take and then make a checklist to guide you through the wedding and ease your stress level.

 

  • Make sure that the groom has appropriate socks for the wedding! Socks are such a small item that they may seem insignificant, but when he realizes that all his good socks are in the wash he may end up scrambling to buy a new pair at the last minute. Save him the hassle by picking him up a pair of “wedding socks” and keeping them aside for the big day.

As you can see from these fabulous tips, a wedding doesn’t have to be a complicated or stressful thing. You can use some practical advice, streamline the process, hit every note, and ultimately pull off a simplistic wedding that you can truly make you proud.