Event Management Stress Strategies: An Event Professional’s Guide to Recovery and Recharging

Event management is a rewarding but high-pressure career. Whether you’re managing events at a restaurant, hotel, or venue, or working on corporate events, weddings, or social events, the fast-paced nature of the event manager role can take a toll on your mental, physical, and emotional well-being. Prioritizing recovery is crucial for staying creative, focused, and successful in the long term for a successful and sustainable career in event management. By incorporating these practices when burnout is imminent, event pros and event managers can return to their roles with increased resilience, creativity, and a renewed passion for creating memorable experiences.

This guide offers actionable strategies to help event managers recharge, find balance, and return to work with renewed energy and passion—no matter the time of year.

Why Event Management is Challenging?

Event planning and management may seem glamorous and exciting, but as you can attest, it is one of the most challenging and high pressure jobs! A role in the event planning industry requires high skill and experience. Here’s a list of responsibilities we came up with for an event manager:

• Managing event details and logistics
• Overseeing budget
• Fulfilling time constraints
• Making logistical decisions often on the go
• Avoiding mistakes
• Adapting to changes
• Ramping up on evolving technologies
• Communicating with a variety of people
• Multitasking
• Running around and moving and lifting, which is a physical demand
• Managing staff turnover
• Handling menus and inventory

Strategies to Recover and Recharge

Read on for some effective strategies for event managers to recharge after event management stress:

1. Reflect on the Event Management Successes

Before diving into the recovery process, take a moment to reflect on the successes and accomplishments of the past year, both personally and with your whole team. Acknowledge the hard work and dedication that went into making them a reality. Celebrating achievements can provide a sense of fulfillment and boost morale, laying the groundwork for a positive mindset moving forward.

2. Get Organized to Avoid Stress

It may seem counter-intuitive to do some more work in order to unplug, but, like reflecting on your successes, getting your event calendar and tasks organized before unplugging can really set you up for an effective recovery. Getting things out of your mind and down on paper (or into your computer), tying up any losing ends, and having a clean space to come back to – taking care of all of these things right away will set you up for true relaxation and recovery. 

Consider:

Prioritizing Tasks: Tackle challenging tasks early in the day when your energy is highest, and alternate them with simpler tasks to maintain balance.
Creating Checklists: Use planning checklists to keep track of deadlines, ensuring that all aspects of the event are accounted for.
Planning Ahead: Allocate time for potential hiccups to avoid last-minute scrambling.
Reviewing Regularly: Take time to assess your progress and adjust plans if needed, so you stay in control throughout the process.

3. Set Boundaries and Prioritize Self-Care

Event managers often work long hours and sacrifice personal time to meet deadlines. The job requirements can be both physically and emotionally draining. It’s crucial to set clear boundaries between work and personal life. Set your phone to Do Not Disturb, and prioritize self-care activities such as adequate sleep, regular exercise, healthy eating, and getting outside. Establishing a routine that includes these elements can significantly improve mental health.

Consider:

• Turning off notifications during downtime.
• Delegate tasks where able
• Setting out-of-office responses.
• Scheduling time for self-care, including exercise, meditation, or hobbies that bring joy.

4. Unplug from Technology

Constant connectivity is a hallmark of the event planning industry, but it’s essential to detach from technology during the recovery period. Designate specific times to check emails and messages, and consider setting an out-of-office response to manage expectations. Consider that Tripleseat offers a robust Discussions feature that automatically responds to event requests so that you can respond after a well-deserved break. Disconnecting from the digital world allows for genuine relaxation and prevents the intrusion of work-related stress into personal time.

5. Engage in Hobbies and Activities

Rekindle your passions and engage in activities that bring joy and relaxation. Whether it’s reading, painting, hiking, or simply spending time with loved ones, participating in hobbies outside of work fosters a healthy work-life balance. Activities that require your full attention (bonus points if you don’t have your phone around at all) are even better so that your mind doesn’t even have a chance to think about work. These activities serve as a therapeutic escape, providing a mental break and helping event managers recharge their creative energy.

6. Plan a Mini Getaway

Consider planning a short getaway to recharge and rejuvenate. Whether it’s a weekend retreat to a tranquil destination or a staycation at home, taking a break from the usual surroundings can have a profound impact on mental well-being. Seeing new places, meeting new people and giving your mind a break can be great for new ideas and inspiration, especially in the event management industry. A change of scenery can offer a new perspective and allow event planners to return to their roles with renewed enthusiasm.

7. Invest in Professional Growth

Participating in industry-related events can be a refreshing way to stay connected without the pressures of planning. Attend conferences or workshops to learn new trends, network with peers, and gain fresh insights. This allows event managers to continue professional development while enjoying a change of pace.

8. Sleep Away the Event Management Stress

Sleep is one of the most underrated keys to quality physical and mental health. With the long hours and stress of the event management industry, especially during the busiest times of the year, good sleep can be one of the first things that suffers. Set yourself up for a good night’s sleep by staying consistent with your daily sleep and wake times, keeping your room dark and comfortable, removing electronics, and avoiding caffeine before bedtime. 

Make rest a priority by:

• Establishing consistent sleep routines.
• Creating a calming bedtime environment.
• Avoiding screens and stimulants before sleep.

Reduce Event Stress and Streamline Your Workload with Tripleseat

When resources are tight, let technology handle the heavy lifting to help you accomplish more with less effort. A lighter workload means more time to focus on what matters most. With Tripleseat, you can streamline event management, handle communications effortlessly, and reclaim valuable time for self-care and growth.

Are you ready to streamline your events all while growing your event business? Schedule a Tripleseat demo to take a closer look at our event management features that take a lot of burden off your plate.