Planning a Stress Free Event by Jess Hopp, The Planner Collective | Guest Blog
When planning your own event, you are required to wear A LOT of hats. There are so many components of an event that you are constantly juggling from vendors to your clients, budgets and beyond. So what’s most important?
Prioritizing what needs to be done can help you when things get tough. Having a clear list to refer back to when chaos sinks in will help keep you focused and eliminate event planning stress. Even if chaos never hits (and I hope it doesn’t!) there are still so many little tasks to keep track of. The “to do list” can be daunting but if you prioritize your tasks you will be ahead of the game. This can be done many ways from simply writing down a checklist to a free online CRM. I love the app asileplanner.com to keep on track! If you have your priorities straight you will be better armed to deal with stress as you plan your event.
Roll with the Punches
No matter how perfectly thought out your big day is, there are likely to be a few glitches along the way. When mistakes pop up don’t panic, instead with a clear mind focus on how to resolve the issue. Ask yourself, is the issue something minor you can brush off and everything will be ok? If it is, roll with the punches and let it go. If your tablecloths were supposed to be white and show up ivory will it really ruin your event? Our bet is your attendees will never notice. Don’t sweat the small stuff this is key to managing event planning stress! Even if it’s a large mistake that pops up, most are fixable if you keep calm and level headed. Events always find a way to work themselves out.
Carve Out Quiet Time
As you plan your own event, you are most likely constantly running around, often juggling way too much. This chaos and stress can spill over into our private life if we aren’t careful. It’s crucial to make time to have quiet time. As you plan your event, this is a hard one to do, as our minds run through a million thoughts per minute but if you take the time to really practice quiet time it will do your stress levels wonders.
Meditate
Meditation is proven to help reduce stress. It’s been shown time and time again that taking time out of your day to shut down and meditate greatly benefits our bodies and mind. In fact, according to an article on mediation, “Meditation is incredibly effective at reducing stress and anxiety. One study found that mindfulness and zen type meditations significantly reduce stress when practiced over a period of three months. Another study revealed that meditation literally reduces the density of brain tissue associated with anxiety and worrying. If you want your stress levels to plummet, meditation may be the answer.” I personally use the app Headspace for quick guided meditations.
Go Outside
We spend way too much time hunched over our computers and cell phone screens. Constantly glued to our technology just waiting for the next notification. Break the cycle and get outside. This is a free and easy way to help reduce stress. Spending time regularly outside is great for our mental health. There are many reasons this is true, from the vitamin D boost, the fresh air, feeling the wind in your hair and more help. Being outside definitely helps deal with stress as you plan your event and keep the stress levels down. So, whether it’s a quick jaunt to your local park, or an epic hike in a remote location take advantage the beauty mother nature has given us and get outside.
Exercise
It’s been proven over and over again that exercise is great for us and reduces stress. According to the ADAA “Studies show that exercise is very effective at reducing fatigue, improving alertness and concentration, and at enhancing overall cognitive function. This can be especially helpful when stress has depleted your energy or ability to concentrate.”
Another reason exercise might help to reduce stress are the endorphins released during a good workout. Endorphins bring out feelings of general well being and can make you happy thus reducing stress. So whether you decide to do some yoga or take a jog this is an excellent way to deal with stress as an event planner. Can’t get to the gym? Check out videos on demand which will allow you to access workouts and programs from virtually anywhere, perfect for on the go.
I hope these tips help you manage event planning stress when you feel it coming up. Next time you feel overwhelmed and stressed try one of these tried and true methods out. Remember to take the time to focus on yourself, especially the weeks and days leading up to your big day.
We want to know, what is your favorite way to relax and de-stress? Comment below with your favorite tips and tricks!
About Jess Hopp + The Planner Collective
Jess Hopp has been planning events for over 10 years. She owns an event planning business, The Planner Collective. Her boutique planning agency is passionate about bringing purpose + experience to every event. She also supports event planners in their event business and career to scale in half the time with resources and coaching. Learn more about The Planner Collective here!
