How can you incorporate self-care into event planning?

Plan a post event rest day(s). Rest can look like not responding to email or text messages. A quiet home cooked meal. Catching up with your partner or friend doing your favorite shared activity. I enjoy catching up on my favorite tv show as well as some sort of outdoor physical activity. Knowing I have something quiet and relaxing to look forward, gives me clarity during the chaos of event planning. Pro tip: expect some things to not go as planned. A flexible mindset is your best friend in fighting off feeling overwhelmed by unforeseen complications.

Top 5 quick fixes are : 1. Seek support : You can't do everything. Don't be afraid to lean on your network. 2. Delegate : Again, the key is you should not do everything yourself. Trust your team and let go of micromanaging. 3. Art of saying NO : Prioritize your well-being and Learn to say no to unreasonable requests. 4. Time management : Set realistic timelines and deadlines, and stick to them! 5. Plan short breaks during day : Step outside, stretch, grab a cup of Tea (Me a Tea Person) - anything to break the cycle and recharge. Remember...Happy and healthy "YOU" is the secret ingredient to event planning magic.

The primary sources of stress in my previous work often came from tight deadlines and high or unrealistic expectations. When stress levels were high, it sometimes led to feeling overwhelmed. Signs that I needed a break included feeling consistently tired or burnt out, making more mistakes than usual, having difficulty concentrating or making decisions, and feeling less enthusiastic. I've found that exercising, decompressing, and adequate sleep helped manage stress levels. Taking regular breaks throughout the day, even for just a few minutes, can also be beneficial. By regularly reflecting on these questions, I can better understand my stress triggers and implement effective coping strategies.

Ways to incorporate self-care into event planning: - Give yourself ample time to plan - Reach out to your team for support during crunch time - Celebrate each step towards your goal - Go with the flow; sometimes plans have to change!

Delegate, have a plan (activities, responsible people, deadline), if possible have a person to remind the others 😀 Have a long lunch day before event Get up early, shower, have coffee, small breakfast ... fire breathing ... make your self look nice Plan day of nothing couple of days after event

I always get up early and go to the gym or do yoga/stretch in the morning before an event. Even if I’m tired, it helps get the natural endorphins and energy that I need to perform at my best. I also make sure to drink plenty of water during the day, and limit caffeine and sugar (no matter how tempting it may be!) I try to have healthy options for food with me as well, in addition to considering healthy foods on the buffets and snack menus.

Having a clear cut Roadmap for every event is exceptionally important. I have developed a Roadmap based on the type of event that starts somewhere from a year to six months out. I use this for every event no matter how large or small. This way I don't miss any details and I don't have to remember everything. My schedule then operates with clear boundaries and a timeframe I know works for any and every event.

Making sure you have a clear schedule that includes all of the tasks you will need to complete for event preparation, and a lots time for personal care is the key to a successful work/life balance! Utilize your online calendar, planner, or whatever works best for you! And set realistic deadlines for each step of the process to both hold your self accountable, and to spread out the workload. Delegation can also be key, but it's important to stay in touch with your team, and this can be something you may overlook in your time management. It is important to schedule time to check in on your team and the projects they are working on to make a seamless event possible while maintaining time for yourself.

Plan YOUR schedule just as you plan the itinerary for the event. I use a digital planner on my iPad to keep track of my work schedule as well as my personal schedule. It also provides me with the space to brain dump, write "to do" lists, take meeting notes, and also keep track of my health and wellness. Events are stressful so ensure that you prioritize yourself in the process.

I’m all for changing the narrative around success and wellness. You don’t need to sacrifice your health & wellbeing to reach any level of success in work and life. A stressed out, hyper-aroused nervous system is not a badge of honor and self-leadership requires effective management of your time. Time blocking incorporating self-care into my calendar has been a game changer for me. I know the hours in a day and days of the week where I’m in an optimal flow state conducive to peak performance. I know that prioritizing my wellness is an investment that always gives me, my team and my clients a high return. Energy is valuable currency. Manage it well.

Establishing clear work hours and breaks is fundamental for self-care in event planning. Communicate these boundaries to your team and stakeholders to manage expectations and prevent burnout. Learn to say no when needed, recognizing your limits. Creating an out-of-office response during non-work hours reinforces your unavailability. Educate your team on the importance of respecting boundaries, fostering a supportive work culture. Open communication about availability and limitations contributes to a healthier approach to event planning, balancing personal well-being and professional effectiveness.

Manage boundaries by setting times of availability, but still being flexible to the needs of the customer. Knowing your limits also is part of managing boundaries. Don't set the expectations so high you cannot meet the customers' needs.

As much as you want to be there for your clients, you have to be there for yourself, too. By creating these boundaries, you give yourself time to recharge and provide better experiences without feeling overwhelmed.

Event attendees are very perceptive to their experience, especially if they invested a great deal of time or compensation to attend. This means they’ll notice if staff are visibly frazzled or seem overwhelmed. Empathetic attendees may feel a desire to ask if you’re okay or other attendees may lose brand trust, wondering how much preparation went into the event if staff seem underprepared. Delegate where appropriate to allow colleagues to showcase their strengths while enhancing the overall event experience. Know when to take a quick break to re-center. It’s a win-win!

To understand your limits, take time out for introspection and to analyze your patterns. Know your warning signals for burnout and don't neglect them.

What we do is hard work! Sometimes we need to cry in a corner because of the toll it takes, the stress on our minds, and the exhaustion our bodies feel. Having a support system, someone who will listen, hug you, or want to punch a wall with you is invaluable. I've had my fair share of cries and those people in my corner lifted me when I was down. It may feel like we are on an island at times but engage those people who build the bridges to support you. Events are transformative for our audiences and they also transform the life of the planner through growth and challenges, each event offers learning opportunities not just about the event/client/attendees/stakeholders, but about ourselves.

Put your own oxygen mask on first before helping others. We specialize in maximizing business results with a dedicated stress management program for Meetings and Events. Our company is Leadership Solutions International based in Denver, Colorado. Reach out and connect with us and we can get started together.

Leveraging your personal network is the easiest way I’ve found to accomplish events. We all know a variety of people who have different strengths and weaknesses. Seeking support can come in many forms. It could be a friend who can listen to you vent about stress, it could be someone whose strength covers your weakness. With my events I’d be a mess if I didn’t have uninvolved friends to vent to and we genuinely couldn’t do our events without the support of our event team. I’m useless at audio and video work but our AV team is incredible. I can’t do photography but one of our planning team owns a large scale photography company. We can’t do it all by ourselves. We need each other

Have dinner with the speakers if possible. Order something delicious and eat well. Don't try and be perfect, the hay is in the barn so try and have fun.

Having a support system is crucial. Network with others who can offer advice and benefit from the wisdom of those around you.

Sending thank you notes makes you realize what a group effort it was and how you have benefitted from having support. Hand-written are best if possible.

I think an Afterglow meeting is always needed, however there is always 3 parts. What worked well, what did not work well, and how do we change it.

No achievement is too big nor too small to be celebrated. It helps one to stay positive and motivated. All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. Give yourself a pat on the back or buy that lovely bag which you have been eyeing on. You are worth it!

Marking moment to celebrate progress or task completed. Each step contribution to the bigger picture... Appreciating each member of your team for the support.

I think it's a really good idea to get trusted stakeholders to help you get pics and videos of the event so you can celebrate your achievements and have a record of them. Build relationships with photographers at events and make sure you have some photos of you in action as well!

Event professionals are good at reflecting on events with debriefing processes - but how often do we debrief personally on how we looked after ourselves during a busy period? After your next big event, why not look back at how your mental and physical health were during the weeks leading up to the event and whether you could have set yourself up better to be in a healthier state before the event. Did you burn yourself out? Did you allow time for relaxation and being kind to yourself when things didn't always go to plan at work?

Reflecting on events with collaborative debriefs are very important but often improvements get lost if you don’t take the extra step of documenting solutions and adding them to the preparation checklist for the next event. This is critical to close the loop so great thoughts or ideas don’t fall by the wayside.

Follow-up support is vital for the well-being of your team of organizers. For instance, after orchestrating a major event that absorbed the entire team's attention for several weeks, I recognized the importance of post-event support. Following a quick recap of the event's successes and areas for improvement, I initiated an appreciation circle. Team members expressed gratitude, giving shout-outs and highlighting achievements of each other. This intentional encouragement eased the transition into self-care, fostering a sense of community, boosting morale, and ensuring a smoother transition into the rest and recovery period!

When working people it important make time to reflect on progress made and areas of improvement to understand how to better individual experience in the process. Every successful team or plan comes with a lot of lessons that are learnt through a reflective debrief to enhance learning.

I think it's important to follow good project management guidelines and have a structured review. I like to ask the following questions: What's the data (ROI, participation numbers, costs, etc.)? What went well? What was the easiest part? What was the hardest part? What didn't go well? What did I most enjoy? If I did this exact event again, how would it be different? What (maybe larger) lessons can I take away? Having a structured review helps me decompress after the event and also makes sure I'm more prepared for the next one - both low urgency, but highly important self-care tasks.

Incorporating self-care into event planning is crucial for maintaining your well-being throughout the process. Here are some ways to do so: 1. Set Boundaries 2. Delegation of Tasks 3. Taking Breaks 4. Practice Mindfulness 5. Stay Organized 6. Prioritize Self-Care Activities 7. Get Adequate Sleep and Nutrition 8. Practice Flexibility By integrating self-care practices into your event planning routine, you can maintain your physical and mental well-being while successfully executing a memorable event.

In event planning, prioritize self-care by setting realistic goals, delegating tasks, and establishing boundaries. Maintain physical and mental health through regular breaks, a balanced diet, and sufficient sleep. Leverage technology, create a support system, and practice mindfulness. Schedule intentional downtime for both you and your team. Celebrate achievements and conduct post-event reflections for continuous improvement. Invest in professional development to stay current and connected within the industry. Incorporating self-care not only benefits the planner but enhances overall event success and a positive atmosphere.

No planejamento de um evento, é fato que existiram vários envolvidos com diferentes necessidades e prioridades, é imprescindível que atendamos todas essas necessidades de forma organizada, conforme prioridades mais importante e menos importantes. Não se deixar pressionar pelos contratempos externos é extremamente importante, para manter o projeto em andamento e não deixar de resolver todas as questões.

More of a story to share than advices but I’ll share anyway. In a stakeholder engagement session in the field of disability, I engaged the help of one of the participant who was executive director for the provincial deaf and hard of hearing association. I showed her some signs and asked her to tell me if it meant something in American Sign Language (ASL) or LSQ. I asked the crowd to stand up and do the same signs as I did them. Some meant something others nothing, others gave her a good laugh. Then I asked her what if I do them all one after another. As I started to do the moves, my assistant started the Macarena song. All the moves I was doing, were the Macarena moves. People started laughing and dancing with me into the end of the song!

Forcing everyone to have fun and relax is a great way to ensure everyone will have fun and relax. This can successfully be accomplished by micromanaging every aspect of the event planning.