Getting married can be exciting, but it’s also a bit stressful. Besides time, money, and effort, creating a shared partnership and household means coping with big changes. While taking care of yourself is important, it’s easy to forget when you’re swept up in budgets, schedules, and deadlines. Focusing on healthy self-care essentials is vital during the months before you tie the knot.

Building Good Practices Take Time

Time is your friend when it comes to building healthy habits. Washington Post writer Brigid Schulte relays some useful advice from sociologist Christine Whelan. Focus on one change at a time and define the specific actions you’ll take. Making small incremental steps is much easier than attempting huge shifts in behavior. Also, don’t expect these changes to become automatic right away. Allow around 90 days for your new routines to solidify and become regular parts of your lifestyle.

Healthy Eating, Not Dieting

Regardless of your gender, you’ll probably find a lot of pre-wedding diet plans and weight loss advice.  Yet as Time writer Alexandra Siiferlin explains, working toward specific health goals is a better approach than worrying about one’s weight. With that in mind, it’s wise to strive toward incorporating more healthy foods into your meals. ChooseMyPlate.org provides some basic guidelines, and nutritionist Zachary Breeding clarifies that calorie, protein, and fluid requirements aren’t that different for transgender people. Some nutritional modifications may be needed for some individuals. This is especially true for those at risk for developing or who already have diabetes, hypertension, or coronary artery disease.

While many nutritional guidelines aren’t overly complicated, you also need the time and resources to follow them. People with limited incomes, busy schedules, executive dysfunction, or mental health challenges may struggle to eat healthier. Some resources can help make meal prep and planning a little easier:

• The Kitchn and org mention tips for eating healthy on a budget.
• Nutritionist Sarah Schlichter discusses meal prep ideas fine-tuned for busy schedules.
• Buzzfeed’s Anna Borges and FitMenCook’s Kevin Curry talk about healthy eating strategies for people impacted by depression, but these can also work for individuals with executive dysfunction.

The basic takeaway from all this advice? Choose inexpensive foods that don’t require a lot of ingredients and are simple to prep. Also, try to work in foods already in your fridge, freezer, or pantry. Prepping ahead and freezing or keeping premeasured items on hand can speed up mealtimes.

Friendly and Accessible Fitness

The Washington Post mentions government-recommended guidelines for physical activity. For adults, that means 150 to 300 minutes of moderately intense exercise or 75 to 150 minutes of vigorous activity each week. Journalist Lenny Bernstein mentions that these goals can be met with small doses of activity. If you aren’t able to exercise during large blocks of time, aim for at least 10 minutes per mini-session.

With the abundance of fitness apps and YouTube videos from knowledgeable instructors, you don’t even need a gym membership. HelpGuide discusses how people with mobility limitations can still work in physical activity. Medium writer Sarah Kurchak offers additional advice for individuals with mental health challenges:

• Choose resources, venues, and instruction styles that are the most comfortable for you.
• Don’t strive for perfection. Instead, find activities you enjoy.
• Break your workout experience into smaller, more manageable pieces.

Treat Yourself With Kindness

As you prepare for your upcoming wedding, your physical and emotional well-being are vital. Exercise and nutritious eating can reduce stress and help you feel more capable to meet challenges. Making good choices and setting small, reasonable goals are important, but remember to be gentle on yourself. If you don’t meet your nutrition and fitness objectives one day, don’t view it as a failure. You can always get back on track.