For those of you who planned to have your wedding this year, chances are, the coronavirus pandemic has forced you to postpone it. This prolongs the wedding planning phase, which is often mentally and emotionally draining for many couples, increasing the risk of a wedding planning burnout. Yes, this is a real condition, and a rather common one at that, too.
A
sensation brought on by an accumulation of expectations, anticipation, and
pressure, you may be suffering from wedding planning burnout if you just can’t
seem to get a move on your wedding planning checklist, even though you know
you should, secretly panic when others casually ask about the wedding planning
progress, or low-key wish for it all
to be over and done with soon.
To help you deal with the stress and burnout, here are some self-care methods that may help to lift your spirits, as well as preventive measures to avoid burning out:
Self-care tips to treat a wedding planning burnout
Do what makes you happy
To lift yourself out of an emotional rut, mental health counsellors recommend shifting your attention to something else that makes you feel productive or passionate about. This is because burnout often comes from a continuous stream of feeling unproductive and a belief that you’ll never get anywhere. To facilitate this, you may start with something small and manageable first to regain that feeling of accomplishment before moving onto larger, harder tasks!
Laugh your heart out
As the saying goes,
laughter is the best medicine. It has been proven by studies and experts that
laughing triggers the release of endorphins in your body, which are essentially
“feel-good” chemicals. Laughing also releases dopamine and oxytocin, and together,
they promote an overall sense of well-being, counteract stress, and put you and
others at ease.
Pamper yourself
Burnout can happen
because we neglect our needs. Experts recommend checking in with yourself daily
and take care of both your mental and physical needs. Sleep enough, drink
enough, move enough, and eat healthily. Take the time to catch up with your
friends, your favourite TV shows, or dabble in relaxation exercises like
meditation! Taking care of yourself will allow you to feel physically and
emotionally better, which can help in reducing the stress felt from the
burnout.
Find a support system
It’s only natural to feel frustrated or devastated when things don’t go your way after all the time and effort you’ve poured into your wedding plans. Don’t bottle your emotions in, allow yourself to feel the hurt and shock, and verbalise how you feel about the situation.
According to psychotherapists, acknowledging your feelings will help you make better sense of your experience, which in turn allows you to find your sense of calm more easily. Turn to your friends and family for emotional support. Alternatively, you may also consider penning down your feelings.
Talk to a professional
Lifting your spirits when you’re experiencing burnout is definitely easier said than done. Talking to a professional is a great way to find some support in your journey to recovery, and it also ensures the fastest and most effective route — after all, they are trained and well-versed in mental health, whereas our family and friends may not be, even though they have our best intentions at heart.
Tips to prevent
burnout
Methods to prevent wedding
planning burnout are similar to treatment measures. The main idea is to
mitigate stress before they get a chance to build up and overwhelm you, so
besides the above tips, here are some other ways you can avoid burnout:
Switch up your daily routine
Preventing stress can be as simple as making subtle changes to your daily routine. Incorporate behavioural techniques that have been proven to relieve stress and anxiety into your day, which can include petting your pet, practising breathing exercises, staying hydrated, and exercising regularly.
Take frequent breaks
If your wedding is
postponed, you can take a break from the planning process and relax your mind
and body. Of course, you’ll need to get in touch with your bridal shop and respective vendors to discuss their COVID-19 plans
and your decision (whether to postpone or cancel your wedding altogether), but
once you’re done with that, you can take this chance to have a breather!
Make wedding planning fun
Alternatively, if
your wedding is postponed, you can also slow down and treat the wedding
planning as a fun activity to do without feeling rushed. Get creative with your
wedding vows, plan a wedding dance, or curate a kick-ass wedding playlist consisting of all
your favourite songs! This will make planning feel less like a chore and
personalise your wedding further to reflect your uniqueness.
