A Winter Self-Care Guide for Engaged Couples

Maybe it’s the twinkly lights or all the extra cheer in the air; either way, it’s no secret that the holiday season is the most popular time for couples to become engaged. With all the excitement (and stress!) of planning and what’s to come, it’s easy to put your health on the back-burner. Every bride and groom want to feel as good as they look on their big day, but that doesn’t always happen overnight. Below, we’ve compiled a few tips to help those who are newly engaged practice self-care through this chilly season in order to remain healthy from the inside out right up until it’s time to say, “We Do!”

Hydrate hydrate hydrate!

While it’s important all year round, it is especially necessary to keep up on your water intake during cold weather months. Remaining hydrated is beneficial to your entire body and for many, intake tends to decrease during the winter as there are less visible reminders. Drinking the recommended amount of water each day helps support a healthy immune system, boosts overall energy, aids in fighting winter weight gain, and keeps your skin clear and healthy. All of these factors are important for couples-to-be as you want to come out of the winter looking and feeling like your best-selves just in time for your big day!

Bonus tip: If you’re someone who shudders at the thought of drinking eight 8-ounce glasses of water per day, a motivational water bottle may be a great purchase to consider. You can also spice things up by adding flavored drops to your water if that’s something that will encourage you to keep drinking!

Adopt a sleep schedule and stick to it!

Similar to hydration, your body and immune system depend on sleep to function properly and fight off any illness. In addition to fatigue and a weakened immune system, sleep deprivation can cause moodiness, irritability, decreased brain function, and premature skin aging. Between holiday festivities, wedding planning, and whatever else life throws your way, you may not be getting the proper amount of sleep during these next few months. It is crucial to put yourself on a sleep schedule and stick to it in order to ensure you’re getting the proper amount of rest each night. While the required amount of sleep varies per person, it’s recommended that adults ages 26-46 get between seven and nine hours per night. If you’re someone who’s had trouble falling asleep and staying asleep in the past, your cell phone may be the culprit. While many use their phones as an alarm, studies have shown that the blue light from your screen can suppress melatonin and is therefore damaging to your quality of sleep.

Bonus Tip: While the proper amount of sleep can help you avoid issues such as premature aging, if you want to look and feel great on your wedding day, you may need to call in some extra reinforcements. Consider layering in an anti-aging cream to your current beauty routine as a way to combat those unwanted wrinkles. Ladies, opt for a prescription-based cream formulated with age-fighting properties like Tretinoin and Niacinamide to get you photo-ready for your big day. Guys, don’t worry, there are plenty of products out there to keep you looking young as well, check some of them out here.

Spend quality time together

Let’s face it, it’s very easy to let wedding planning take over your lives, especially during the winter when you’ll find yourself stuck inside with nothing to do. This may leave you and your spouse-to-be at odds with one another over various plans. For this very reason, it’s necessary to allow yourself a break from the planning to do something that you both enjoy together. Getting out of a wedding frame of mind and back to just hanging out as a couple can not only decrease your stress levels but also help you rekindle your romance. It’s no secret that planning a wedding, no matter how big or small, can cause a lot of tension, but it’s important to remember why you’re getting married in the first place.

Bonus Tip: If you want to take your quality time together to the next level, consider a night away or an entire weekend if the budget allows for it. There are plenty of great warm weather destinations to visit, especially if you’re trying to escape cold temperatures. Time away from the daily grind will leave you feeling refreshed and ready to face whatever wedding planning throws your way when you return.

Surviving the winter can be tough on its own, but throwing in wedding planning can make it feel impossible at times. It’s important couples remain in tip top shape and practice self-care in order to look and feel their best when the time comes to head down the aisle. Keeping the above in mind, along with anything else that makes you feel good, can be the true key to marital bliss!