Wedding planning is stressful. I’m sure most people would agree with that statement. But does it have to be?
Any event that involves assembling various distant family members into one venue is always going to be a bit anxiety-inducing. But it definitely doesn’t have to be as stressful as most bride and grooms make it.
There are many wedding-hacks you can take to make the run up to your big day less stressful, these involve anything from hiring a wedding planner to becoming a prodigious list maker. But there is one super simple and easily achievable pre-wedding tip I recommend everybody give a go – harness the power of the power nap.
Yep, that’s it – it sounds too simple to be true but the benefits of simply having a short nap in the afternoon each and every day are truly profound. Read on below and I’ll explain exactly why catching forty winks on the couch could be the best pre-wedding advice you will ever receive.
1. Napping lowers your stress levels
Outside of exercise, sleep is the single greatest stress reliever known to medical science. And as we’ve already noted, the run-up to a wedding is a very stressful time.
When we worry about something, the body releases a hormone known as cortisol, also referred to by those in the know as the ‘stress hormone’. Heightened cortisol levels lead to anything from increased blood pressure to reduced immune function. Meaning when we’re stressed we are more likely to get sick more frequently.
So if you don’t want to spend the week before your wedding in bed with the flu, maybe pencil half an hour of nap time into your pre-wedding day schedule.
When we sleep, even if it’s just for thirty minutes in the afternoon our body is able to better regulate the level of cortisol in our system. That means our stress levels are reduced and our overall cognitive and physical performance is improved.
2. Napping improves your memory
Medical science has long known of the link between sleep and memory but recent research seems to strongly suggest that naps can play a similar role in improving our ability to retain important information.
When we are sleep deprived, like many of us are in the run-up to an important event like a wedding, our cognitive performance suffers. The brain needs rest and when it doesn’t get sufficient it begins to struggle to keep up.
There are many things you can do to improve your odds of a better night’s rest, from investing in a good bed to avoiding coffee and alcohol. But sometimes we also need an extra helping hand and that’s where an afternoon nap comes in.
So if you’re a struggling to memorize your vows or speeches for the big day then maybe trying having a quick power nap after each revision session. The data suggest even the briefest amount of shuteye will have a powerful effect on your ability to retain details.
A nap in the afternoon will make you more efficient, more accurate and more likely to remember to call the florist back! You forgot about that, didn’t you?
3. Prevents pre-wedding burnout
How many weddings have you been to where behind the veil and the makeup you can just tell the bride is exhausted. A zombie in a dress. I’m sure more than one. Many brides and grooms are so exhausted by the time their big day comes around that they are simply too tired to enjoy the day.
I’ve been to wedding’s where the bride and groom are the first to bed and not for reasons of consummation. Prioritising sleep and incorporating a healthy schedule of naps into each and every day in the days and weeks before the wedding will go a long way to preventing big day burnout.
You want to be remembered as the couple who danced the night away, not the pathetic pair who went to bed before Great Aunt Irene.
4. Don’t work hard, work smart
Now, I’m positive that many people out there reading this are probably wondering where they can find the time to include a nap into their daily schedule, there’s just too much to be done – especially in the run-up to a wedding. Well, having a 30-minute nap will enable you to get things done more efficiently.
A post-lunch nap will not only improve your stamina but also your decision making, meaning you will be a wedding planner killer for the remainder of the day.
“Don’t work hard, work smart” is the mantra of many Silicon Valley tech companies and it’s no coincidence that organizations such Google and Uber have installed high-tech nap pods in their offices around the world. If it works for them, it can work for you and your wedding. Do it! Nap away.
Well, there you have it – four reasons why enjoying a daily nap time may be the best thing you can do in the run-up to your nuptials. Good luck and enjoy the big day!