Whether you’re organising a wedding in six months or have more time to play with, wedding planning can take its tow on all those involved, especially the bride and groom.
Unmanaged wedding planning stress can cause untold issues, with the physical and mental well-being of the bride and groom affected. Sleep is usually the first thing that suffers.
While the odd sleepless night is to be expected, especially the night before the big day, a continuous lack of sleep can be damaging.
Your body needs sleep. Without it, you’ll be fatigued, irritable, and unable to function correctly, which aren’t the things you want to be feeling when planning the biggest day of your life.
There are many ways that you can work on getting more sleep during those days, weeks and months before your wedding. We take a closer look at one solution that’s being relied on by brides everywhere – sleep sprays.
What are sleep sprays?
Sleep or pillow sprays are sprayed directly and generously onto your pillow or around the room. They tend to be a concoction of natural ingredients proven to promote a better night’s sleep.
Many sleep sprays contain lavender for instance. Other sleep sprays contain equally as soothing essential oils such as chamomile, vanilla, jasmine, and sandalwood to help you fall asleep more easily.
Contrary to popular belief, sleep sprays are no new thing. They have in fact been used for centuries, but their recent commercialisation means the sleep spray market is now booming. Individuals facing all kinds of stress, including wedding planning anxiety, have called on sleep sprays to calm the mind and induce sleep.
Do they really work?
Whilst no in-depth research has been completed to prove that sleep sprays really do send you to the land of nod faster, the studies that have been undertaken have revealed many positive, sleep-promoting effects. The effectiveness of sleep sprays however, does tend to rely on your body already being relaxed.
Charlette, a.k.a. The Unnatural Redhead, uses sleep sprays as part of her bedtime ritual. In her recent blog post, she explained the science behind how sleep sprays work:
“Inhaling essential oils directly affects the olfactory system, the part of the brain connected to smell, including the nose and the brain. As the molecules reach the brain, they affect limbic system, which is linked to the emotions, the heart rate, blood pressure, breathing, memory, stress, and hormone balance. In this way, essential oils can have a subtle, yet holistic effect on the body.”
Sleep sprays are just the beginning…
Sleep sprays are affordable sleep products that are worth giving a go. Finding the sleep spray that works for you is the key to success, and when you do, your chosen sleep spray will be an important part of your bedtime routine. Making sure you take the time to perfect your bedtime routine however is more important than any sleep spray.
Keep bedtime as relaxing as possible by organising everything you need for the next day. You should also have a consistent wind down routine, restricting the use of phones, TVs, laptops, tablets, and other electronic devices at least one hour before bed. Taking a relaxing bath or practicing some meditation will calm your mind for a better night’s sleep too.
Don’t be afraid to talk to those around you about exactly what’s stressing you out. As the saying goes “a problem shared is a problem halved”, so share your worries with your partner, friends or relatives.
Remember, stress is no longer a taboo subject. Writing down your worries every night before you go to sleep will also unburden the mind, allowing you to start afresh the next day and get back to planning your very own fairytale wedding.
