While most brides will spend more than a few sleepless nights planning for and worrying about their big day, spare a thought for Meghan Markle who’s set to have the eyes of the world on hers on Saturday 19 May .
Brides have so much to think about – the venue, the dress, the bridesmaids, the honeymoon – all of which can get a bit overwhelming.
What they really need in the run up to their wedding day is sleep – lots of it – but with so much on their minds, brides-to-be can find it somewhat elusive.
It’s no myth that beauty sleep is a real thing, and nobody wants red eyes, tired skin and aching joints on their wedding day. But how do you sleep soundly when you’re dealing with pre-wedding jitters?
Here are the five top tips for brides get a more restful night’s sleep on the run up to their big day:
Eat healthily – especially breakfast
To help us sleep as well as possible, especially when nerves are at their peak, we need a good balance of the hormones serotonin and melatonin in our system. Eating foods such as chicken, cheese, tofu, eggs, nuts, seeds and milk, will help to boost these hormone levels. Most brides will be conscious of what they are eating in the build up to the big day, but during the rush of planning, many will forget to eat breakfast. Eating breakfast within 30 minutes of rising stabilises metabolism, blood sugar and melatonin production.
Reduce caffeine and alcohol consumption
Caffeine and refined sugars, which are found in alcohol, are stimulants and make it difficult to not only sleep, but to also experience high quality sleep. Although a glass of wine may be tempting to calm wedding jitters and to help you to drift off, it actually disrupts sleep and is associated with more frequent awakenings and night sweats.
Try getting an early night
In the run up to the wedding, going to bed by 10-10.30pm a few nights a week is good for the immune system, thus clearing toxins from the body. Getting into a routine, by waking and going to sleep at the same time every day, improves sleep quality and increases the chances of a great sleep the night before your wedding.
Keep calm
Despite the pressure, the main thing to remember the night before your wedding is to try and not worry about getting a good sleep. Focus on resting well and even if you don’t manage to sleep well that night it won’t have any significant impact on how you look if you have slept well in the run up.
Breathe
If the nerves get too much on the eve of the wedding, try a simple breathing technique. Kundalini breathing is particularly good for a wired mind and body. Sit up straight in bed, pucker your lips as if holding a 10p coin, breathe in forcefully through the lips, and exhale through the nose for two minutes.
For more sleep tips visit Silentnight’s content hub here!
