It won’t come as a surprise to you if we say that an event professional’s job is full of stress. Especially when an event is just round the corner; the difference between day and night is quite blurred. The time, leading upto the event, becomes hectic, chaotic and maddening.
When such is the scenario, it’s obvious for you to get exhausted even while the preparation is on. But, if you want to ensure your event runs smoothly on the D-day, you need to dodge burnouts and stay sane.
Your to-do list will be a never-ending story and when you go to bed at night, deep down there’s a fear that something was forgotten. Time is a precious commodity. And being alert about how you spend it can help you hold onto your sanity and avoid mistakes.
Here are a few basic things you should remember to stay balanced and avoid burnouts.
Creating Space:
- Reach for more hours in the day: If you ever wished you had a few more hours in the day, you’ll be pleased to know you can! You first need to start by setting your alarm a bit earlier. Getting an early start to your day will allow you to tackle your nagging to-do list items without being disturbed by anyone or anything else.
- Do not neglect your personal to-do list: You likely use a to-do list to manage the event planning process, but what about your personal tasks?
A few weeks before your event, set aside time to jot down your personal activities like tidying up, laundry etc.
- Think about your event-day outfit in advance: Don’t haphazardly pull out clothes out of your closet the morning of your event. Instead, do an outfit trial from head to toe. This way, if something is wrong like, a button is missing, or if there’s a stain, you’ll have time to fix it or choose an alternate.
- Schedule your downtime and stick to it: When you list out your personal necessities, make sure to include ‘yourself’. Studies show that creating space for free time increases productivity and can dramatically enhance mental and physical health. Block your personal time on the calendar and commit to it.
Maintain A Healthy Diet:
You only have limited hours in the day, and most of them are spent worrying about the event. Which is why it’s so tempting to opt for takeouts at the end of a long day.
What you may not recognise is that a poor diet can contribute to your stress and anxiety. So when you get hungry, skip the takeaways and plan for more healthy options with these ideas.
- Meal prepping: Instead of figuring out what to cook after a tiring day at the office, prepare your ingredients ahead of time. In addition to saving time, meal prepping ensures you’ll eat better and healthier meals.
- Nutritious snacks: Instead of greasy unhealthy chips or sugary treats, stock up on nutritional and delicious foods like popcorn, protein bars, salads etc.
Exercising Your Body And Your Mind:
- Exercise: In addition to eating healthy, exercising also helps in reducing stress. So make sure to pencil in your ideal workout, whether it’s running, a long walk, yoga, or gymming.
- Meditate: Mindfulness meditation has proven to positively impact our mental and physical health.
There’s no doubt that the event week will be full of stress. But if you take care of yourself, you’ll be better equipped to handle the challenges. Instead of planning for every possibility, plan to be adaptable. Keep a positive attitude and you’ll be able to build a strong barrier against burnout.
There you have it, 9 ways to stay calm and avoid burnout.
Do you have any other stress-busting tips that worked for you? If so, share them in the comments below.