So, you’re about to get engaged. Congratulations! Or, should I say, congratulations on surviving the pre-engagement stress that involves pretending you don’t know it’s coming while simultaneously obsessing over Pinterest boards, strategically dodging family questions about the proposal, and preparing to ugly cry at just the right angle for a candid Instagram shot.
But let’s talk about the real problem here: you can’t sleep.
You toss. You turn. You wonder if the ring will be exactly what you hinted at during those oh-so-subtle jewelry store strolls. You wake up at 3 a.m. in a cold sweat because, oh no, what if the proposal caption isn’t perfect?!
Girl, stress-induced insomnia is real, but don’t worry. I got you. Here are 9 sleep-saving solutions so you don’t show up to your own engagement party looking like a caffeinated raccoon.
1. Make a Worry Journal (Yes, Really)
Write down every single ridiculous, over-the-top wedding-related thought keeping you awake.
“What if my fiancé kneels on the wrong knee?” Write it down.
“What if my future MIL insists on a family heirloom ring that I absolutely hate?” Write it down.
Putting your thoughts on paper helps your brain chill. Plus, in 10 years, you can look back and laugh at how dramatic you were.
2. Put Down the Phone, Ma’am
That deep dive into “best winter engagement outfits” at midnight? It’s not helping. Neither is scrolling through engagement rings until you start thinking a $50,000 diamond is reasonable.
Try this instead: switch your phone to Night Mode, set a bedtime alarm, and if all else fails, hand it to your best friend and tell her to lock it in a vault.
3. Create a Pre-Sleep Ritual
You need a wind-down routine. Some options:
- Light a fancy candle (bonus points if it’s called something ridiculous like “Moonlit Serenity”).
- Read a book (preferably not wedding-related, unless you want your dreams hijacked by flower arrangements).
- Take a warm bath (and if you don’t have a tub, just stand in the shower and let the existential crisis wash over you).
4. Try the 4-7-8 Breathing Trick
It’s like a secret cheat code for your nervous system.
- Inhale for 4 seconds.
- Hold for 7 seconds.
- Exhale for 8 seconds.
Repeat until your body forgets about the impending in-law encounters.
5. Talk It Out (But Not to Your Fiancé)
Your fiancé is probably already sweating bullets about the proposal. Spare the poor guy. Instead, call your bestie, your mom, or literally anyone else to unleash your anxieties.
Or better yet, start a group chat titled “Pre-Engagement Freakout” so your friends can remind you that yes, he loves you, and yes, it’ll all be fine.
6. Exercise (Yes, Even If You Hate It)
I know, I know. You’re exhausted. But weirdly, working out helps with actual exhaustion. Go for a run, do yoga, or just dance around your room like you’re auditioning for a Bridgerton ball.
Tire your body out so it has no choice but to sleep.
7. Eat Like a Normal Human (No Midnight Taco Bell Runs)
Look, I love a good 1 a.m. snack, but drowning your stress in nacho cheese isn’t going to help you snooze.
Try foods that help with sleep: almonds, bananas, chamomile tea. And avoid caffeine unless you want to be jittering through your engagement photos like a hyperactive squirrel.
8. Laugh It Off (Literally)
Stress is no match for belly laughs. Watch your favorite rom-com, binge The Office, or scroll TikTok until you cry from laughing (just don’t get sucked into Wedding TikTok, you’ve been warned).
Laughing releases happy chemicals in your brain, which makes it easier to relax. Plus, it’s just more fun than lying awake in existential dread.
9. Remind Yourself: It’s Just One Moment
Your engagement will be amazing, but it’s not the end-all-be-all of your relationship. The proposal? The ring? The Instagram caption?
Small potatoes.
At the end of the day, you’re marrying the person you love. That’s what matters. Everything else is just an overpriced photoshoot with confetti.
Final Thoughts (And a Call to Action, Because We’re Fancy Like That)
Now that you have your sleep-saving toolkit, tell me, what’s your biggest engagement-related stress keeping you up at night? Drop a comment below so we can all freak out together.
Or, better yet, share your weirdest pre-engagement worry. (Did anyone else panic about what to do with their hands during the proposal, or was that just me?)
Sweet dreams, future fiancée. You got this.