Ways to reduce stress The closer you get to the big day, the more stress you feel. Have I forgotten anything? Will everything go as I planned? You are excited, nervous, and totally stressed out. Sometimes we feel stressed because we have gotten so caught up in the details that we have lost sight of the eternal perspective. Here are some tips to help calm you down: 1. Pray for peace, guidance, and confirmation.
Nothing brings more peace than the knowledge that you are marrying the right person in the right place.
2. Read your scriptures- not only will you feel
more spiritually prepared to enter the temple, but you will allow the Spirit to enter your life with all of His attendant peace and inspiration.
3. Read a book about the temple to regain your
focus on what this day is supposed to be about, i.e. the eternal covenants you will be making with God and your spouse. The Holy Temple K. Packer, and/or House of Glory:
Finding Personal Meaning in the Temple by S. Michael Wilcox would be a great places to
start.
4. Eliminate some of the details and keep focused on
the big picture (ultimately, this day isn’t about the
chocolate covered almonds, but about the temple covenants you will be making!) Don’t sweat the
small stuff.
5. Keep your expectations in check. You don’t need to
have the biggest and best wedding reception anyone’s ever been to. Again, keep the focus on what’s really important.
6. Re-evaluate your planning schedule. You don’t have
to do everything yourself. Delegate. Once you have turned something over to someone else to handle, let them do it. Don’t feel like you have to constantly be looking over their shoulder.
7. Expect things to go wrong… and get over it! Things
will not be perfect regardless of how much time and planning you put into it. Accept that you cannot control everything and that the mishaps will add humorous memories you can recall on future anniversaries.
8. Keep a journal of your engagement and write your
feelings in it every day. Be sure to include a list of
all the reasons why he is the one for you. What are those special qualities he has that make you love him
and want to be with him forever. (Not only is it very cathartic to write down your feelings, it will also be
very useful in the future when you are fighting, to remind you why you married him)
9. Day dream about what it will be like married to your
fiancé.10. Call your sweetie and tell him you love him and can’t
wait to be his wife.11. Go for a brisk walk or exercise for at least 20 minutes.
12. Get a professional manicure and/or pedicure – or do it
yourself.13. Take a bubble bath. Roll a towel up and lay it behind
your head, lay your head back and just relax.14. Wash your hair.
15. Lay down on the floor or on your bed and shut your
eyes. Picture in your mind a large blackboard and picture writing on it all the things you have to do. Now picture yourself erasing it until the blackboard is clean. Focus on the clean blackboard for a minute or two. Now picture the face of your loved one smiling at you. Smile back. That should relax you. Remember: your engagement should be a happy time! Don’t let the wedding planning preoccupy you so much that it keeps you from enjoying the process… and your fiancée.
Ways to reduce stress The closer you get to the big day, the more stress you feel. Have I forgotten anything? Will everything go as I planned? You are excited, nervous, and totally stressed out. Sometimes we feel stressed because we have gotten so caught up in the details that we have lost sight of the eternal perspective. Here are some tips to help calm you down: 1. Pray for peace, guidance, and confirmation.
Nothing brings more peace than the knowledge that you are marrying the right person in the right place.
2. Read your scriptures- not only will you feel
more spiritually prepared to enter the temple, but you will allow the Spirit to enter your life with all of His attendant peace and inspiration.
3. Read a book about the temple to regain your
focus on what this day is supposed to be about, i.e. the eternal covenants you will be making with God and your spouse. The Holy Temple K. Packer, and/or House of Glory:
Finding Personal Meaning in the Temple by S. Michael Wilcox would be a great places to
start.
4. Eliminate some of the details and keep focused on
the big picture (ultimately, this day isn’t about the
chocolate covered almonds, but about the temple covenants you will be making!) Don’t sweat the
small stuff.
5. Keep your expectations in check. You don’t need to
have the biggest and best wedding reception anyone’s ever been to. Again, keep the focus on what’s really important.
6. Re-evaluate your planning schedule. You don’t have
to do everything yourself. Delegate. Once you have turned something over to someone else to handle, let them do it. Don’t feel like you have to constantly be looking over their shoulder.
7. Expect things to go wrong… and get over it! Things
will not be perfect regardless of how much time and planning you put into it. Accept that you cannot control everything and that the mishaps will add humorous memories you can recall on future anniversaries.
8. Keep a journal of your engagement and write your
feelings in it every day. Be sure to include a list of
all the reasons why he is the one for you. What are those special qualities he has that make you love him
and want to be with him forever. (Not only is it very cathartic to write down your feelings, it will also be
very useful in the future when you are fighting, to remind you why you married him)
9. Day dream about what it will be like married to your
fiancé.10. Call your sweetie and tell him you love him and can’t
wait to be his wife.11. Go for a brisk walk or exercise for at least 20 minutes.
12. Get a professional manicure and/or pedicure – or do it
yourself.13. Take a bubble bath. Roll a towel up and lay it behind
your head, lay your head back and just relax.14. Wash your hair.
15. Lay down on the floor or on your bed and shut your
eyes. Picture in your mind a large blackboard and picture writing on it all the things you have to do. Now picture yourself erasing it until the blackboard is clean. Focus on the clean blackboard for a minute or two. Now picture the face of your loved one smiling at you. Smile back. That should relax you. Remember: your engagement should be a happy time! Don’t let the wedding planning preoccupy you so much that it keeps you from enjoying the process… and your fiancée.