6 Mental Health Tips for Event Professionals

As things start to pick up in the new year I wanted to talk about the importance of mental health for event professionals. Speaking for myself and many other event professionals in my network, mental health has been a prominent topic among us, especially with the rate of burnout increasing. While the pandemic posed new challenges for many of us and pushed us to think outside of the box to have events run differently, coming out of the pandemic was hectic, to say the least. It was so fabulous getting back to in-person events but with that being said, it has also been exhausting. I wanted to take the time to write this blog to share my thoughts so that other event professionals know they are not alone when they are feeling burnout and two, sharing a few tips I have found helpful to battle and prevent burnout.

Tips to Battle Burnout

Most of us can feel burnout coming on but we have made a commitment to our clients, families, and friends, and I know from my own experience, we don’t want to let any of these people down. So what do we do? It’s important to try and battle the burnout before it actually hits. Try using the following tips to help you.

Prioritize Tasks

When we have hundreds or even thousands of tasks to get done it’s important to take the time to sit down and prioritize these tasks. I like to prioritize the due date and size of the task. Once you have prioritized your tasks into groups, pull out your calendar and start to map out when you will complete tasks. Remember, you do need to get sleep so working 24 hours a day is not a solution. If you don’t have enough time for everything, this will bring you to the next tip.

Ask for Help

Asking for help may be one of the hardest things I have had to do but my team, friends, and family have really helped me out. Sometimes we take on too much, or the list is just too long, and as difficult as it can be, you have to ask for help! Consider who is in your support network and delegate some of your tasks.

Talk to a Friend or Family Member

Sometimes we just need a friend or family member to listen to our woes and provide support. I know it can be hard to reach out, especially when you are feeling low and overwhelmed but that’s what family and friends are for! I wouldn’t be where I am without their support and love.

Tips to Prevent Burnout

Now that I’ve shared a few tips on battling burnout, one thing I’ve learned is that it is best to implement certain habits to help you prevent burnout in the first place. Moving into the new year, let’s all prioritize our mental health using the following tips, or whatever works for you, to help us live a healthier year.

Stay Organized

A tip I will preach forever is the importance of staying organized. It’s been one of the easiest ways that I have stuck to my timelines, which may not relieve all of the stress but it most definitely helps. Here are a few ways I stay organized:

1. Set aside an hour at the end of each week to plan the upcoming week and remind yourself of the important tasks you must complete.
2. Use a calendar or agenda to help you map things out. There are lots of helpful digital tools as well such as Trello that help with project management.
3. Set calendar or phone reminders.

Be Realistic with Timelines and Commitments

I think we’ve all been guilty of this, but we tend to take on too much work sometimes. I’ve really started to be a bit more realistic with my timelines and commitments to ensure that I’m not biting off more than I can chew. So, how exactly do I do this? When taking on a new project, I really like to project things that will take a bit more time to make up for any changed plans or when things don’t go exactly as planned (and we all know, it happens). 

Practice and Prioritize Self-Care

I cannot stress the importance of practicing and prioritizing self-care. Self-care can range from small things to making the time to have a bath in the evening or taking some well-deserved time off. Regardless of the size, it’s best practice to implement at least a bit of self-care each day. What I would suggest is brainstorming ways that you can practice self-care and start making time for it. I promise it will make all the difference.

Remember, everyone is different and you will need to find the best ways to manage stress and burnout. I hope these tips can provide a bit of guidance if you are feeling lost. Let’s all work together to prioritize our mental health and prevent future burnout!