ByEvent planning has never been an easy role but since the pandemic, it has becoming increasingly stressful for these professionals. In fact, event management has become one of the most stressful jobs worldwide. Despite having no life-threatening risks, this career does come with a lot of pressure for success.
However, this pressure can take its toll mentally and physically. In the professional world, these affects have become known as burnout. Burnout occurs when a person experiences stress for a prolonged time, resulting in emotional, mental, and physical exhaustion. This person might lose interest in the activities they previously enjoyed or even become unwell.
If you have ever experienced burnout, you will understand how difficult it can be. This article will explain three tips event planners should use to avoid burnout.
Recognize the Signs of Stress
In the work setting, managers and other team leaders should look out for the signs of stress in their teams. Employers must act to protect their workers from stress; this can be done by assessing the risks of work-related stress. Things like high staff turnover, increased sickness absence, and arguments can be signs of stress in the workplace.
Although this is vital in business settings, it is also down to the individual to notice when they begin to act, feel, or think differently. Stress can be shown in a variety of ways, including:
- Avoiding loved ones
- Becoming disinterested in hobbies and interests
- Experiencing physical distress like headaches or stomach pain
- Feeling emotions more intensely
- Losing energy quickly or becoming fatigued
If you experience one or more of these signs, then you could be suffering from work-related stress.
Practice Self-Care
According to The Conference Board in 2023, 69% of US workers said they are working harder than is expected at their job compared to six months ago. This will affect the mental and physical health of these employees at some point, which might cause them to experience burnout. One way to decrease this risk as an event planner is to practice self-care.
Self-care doesn’t have to be about mindfulness or meditation. In fact, for many people, this will revolve around taking more time for themselves and achieving a good work-life balance. One area that stressed workers should focus on is their sleeping routine. Achieving eight hours of high-quality sleep per night can lower stress levels. To achieve this, it is encouraged to avoid blue light from TVs, mobiles, etc. for at least half an hour before bed.
Other ways to take care of yourself include drinking more water, exercising regularly, listening to music, reading a book, or taking part in other activities you enjoy. To learn more about prioritizing self-care as an event planner, click here.
Set Boundaries
In event management, it can be difficult to be unwavering with your boundaries. There is so much to do, and there is so much pressure on you to ensure the next event is a success. However, leaving the stress of work behind you at the end of the day is critical to avoid burnout. This can be easier when you work in an office building or similar, but working from home makes it tougher to take off the event planning hat.
But you mustn’t bring work stress home with you. Whether you want to spend time with your family or make more time to learn a new skill, you should develop strategies to cut yourself off from work when it is time to head home. This might include setting your work notifications, such as on Slack, to “snooze” or deleting your work email from your personal mobile.
Setting boundaries can also mean you no longer take on the majority of the workload; instead, you delegate tasks to the rest of your team or colleagues. You might also begin to say “no” when your superiors ask too much of you; this does not mean declining work, but you might negotiate how much you will do yourself or the deadline for the task. These strategies can be used during working hours to ensure you do not become stressed at all, instead of leaving stress behind you at the end of the working day.
With these three tips, professionals in event management can begin avoiding burnout. This will ensure they continue to enjoy their careers, instead of becoming exhausted emotionally, mentally, and physically.
