Being a bridesmaid can often feel like a part-time job that has you running around town, doing errand after errand, and working overtime just to keep the bride happy and stress free. It doesn’t matter if the bride is your closest friend from childhood or your second cousin, as her bridesmaid you will find yourself feeling like you’re always on-call, doing what you can to be by her side. But what happens when you spend too much time and dare i say it, money, on being a bridesmaid? You may find yourself exhausted, resentful, and just desperate for the whole thing to be over. If you’re eager to make sure that doesn’t happen, here are 4 ways to not get burned out as a bridesmaid.

1. Take Time Off

You’re not a bridesmaid for just the day of the wedding or the month before. Often times, your bridesmaid duties begin long before the wedding even rolls into your calendar view. It can be anywhere between a year and eight months that you’re the bride’s go-to gal pal. That’s why it’s important to carve out time for yourself and make sure that your life is still progressing, even when things get stressful as a bridesmaid.

2. Stop Procrastinating

When you have a bridesmaid to-do list that becomes two pages long, it’s time to knock off those items as soon as you can. Try not to wait for the last minute. That’s when the pressure will kick in and if you still need to book travel, accommodations or buy your dress, you may be shelling out way more cash than you even need to.

3. Pick and Choose

You don’t have to say yes to everything as a bridesmaid. If the bachelorette party is going to be too much money for you to attend or the bridal shower is in a different state, you can politely decline on going to those events. You don’t have to show up to show off how supportive you are as a bridesmaid.

4. Skip the Drama

Try to stay out of any bridal party drama, whether it’s with caddy bridesmaids starting fights or arguing over the color of what they would like the bridesmaid dress to be. The more peace you can keep, the more being a bridesmaid will feel like a yummy slice of wedding cake.