How do you do it? I really didn't think that planning a wedding was going to be all that stressful. I figured all you had to do was pick your venue, photographer, dress, etc. and the rest would just fall together. NO. Now that we've hit the one year mark, all of the sudden I feel like there are a million things to do. It's a little overwhelming, and when I feel overwhelmed, I have a tendency to just ignore it and not do anything. Clearly, that strategy isn't going to work in this case.
The next year is going to be very busy for me as I complete a pharmacy residency (why did I think this was a good idea again?), which is stressful enough on its own. Adding in the stress of planning a wedding is a little bit too much. All of that said, there are a few things that I like to do to keep the stress level down.
Taking time for myself. I've been trying to set aside time each day to work out. Even if this just means walking for 30 minutes, it's MY time. Committing this small amount of time each day to physical activity gives me more energy and improves my focus throughout the rest of the day.
Making lists. Writing down what I need to get done that day (and being realistic with myself) helps to make things more manageable. Like I mentioned in a previous post, I categorized all of my major wedding to-do's into monthly sections. There are still smaller things that need to be done each week, like sending emails to vendors and making minor decisions, but these go on my daily to-do list. I use an app on my iPhone called Teux Deux which lets you cross off items as they are completed, and uncompleted tasks are rolled over to the next day. It also synchronizes with an online account, so you can access it even if you can't use your phone. I love crossing items off of my list each day, progress feels good!
Getting rid of clutter. This really has nothing to do with wedding planning, but when I organize my living space, I feel more centered. I know that this definitely doesn't apply to everyone, but I'm very left-brained and this is what works for me. I try to spend 10-15 minutes each evening picking up around my apartment, and I never leave dirty dishes in the sink. Try it for a few days, you won't regret it!
WINE. Not kidding, sometimes knowing that I can enjoy a glass of wine once I get home is what gets me through the day. Whatever works, right?
So to all of you who are also wedding planning or have planned a wedding in the past, what did you do to beat stress?
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