The Chilled-Out-Bride Guide

Hints and Tips to Avoid Stress Before Your Big Day

Stress is bound to hit you at some point during the wedding planning process. If any of the following seem familiar - irritability, tiredness, poor memory, indigestion, diarrhoea, constipation, neck and shoulder ache and tearfulness - then it probably already has. Here are some hints and tips to help you relax and chill out.

Have a good clearout. Tackle your wardrobe or the spare room and throw everything you haven’t touched or looked at in the past six months. According to experts walking into a cluttered room can cause a dip in energy levels, but decluttering will help focus your mind and provide a good distraction from other issues. Just maybe you discover you some forgotten treasures or you may find your’ something old!’.

Take a day trip to a spa for some ultimate relaxation. Try to find one that has a floatation room - a large pool which is covered by a lid. The warm water and the dark surroundings can help distract you from all the other pressures in your life and the buoyant water will help you joints and muscles relax too. Take you mom and chief bridesmaid along too.

It may sound simple or even daft but having a good laugh will release feel-good endorphins and reduce the levels of the stress hormone cortisol. Gather your friends together and have a fun night in with some movies, chocolate and wine!

Take the herbal supplement Rhodiola. This great herb is an adaptogen which can relieve anxiety or help you adapt to stressful situations. It is also good for increasing energy, reducing the risk of depression and improving your libido!

Go shopping for flowers and fill your home with vases of the following:

White Chestnut - helps brides becoming obsessed by their wedding plans.

Mimulus - for those getting cold feet and for no apparent reason.

Cherry blossom - will help prevent bridezilla from making an appearance and will help you keep perspective.

To instantly relieve stress and release feel-good hormones you can’t beat having sex! Take some time out from the wedding and spend a romantic evening together, concentrating on what attracted you together in the first place.

A massage is always a good way to banish stress and help you relax. Try an Indian head massage to reduce tension, help you sleep, ease anxiety and promote a sense of calmness. This type of massage also releases hormones which will help boost your mood and help keep the stress hormones down.