Event planners tend to wear many different hats and juggle various tasks. Apart from having to deal with the pressure of meeting the client’s demands and expectations, they also need to negotiate with vendors, and find suitable locations for the happening, and make sure everything goes as scheduled, among many others. And because of this, the job can be a little more stressful than most.
You mustn’t let yourself get burned out by the stress. After all, not only will you be more susceptible to making mistakes that could create more problems and setbacks that can ruin the event. More importantly, it could have a long-term impact on both your physical health and mental well-being. So to help you manage your stress as an event planner, here are some tips to keep in mind.
Learn to adapt
There will almost always be unexpected concerns and unforeseen problems that you’ll have to deal with when planning an event. Whether it is dealing with last-minute client-requested changes, unavailable vendors, or uncooperative weather, you must learn to adapt to any adverse circumstances that arise. One way you can do so is by creating contingency plans for any potential issues that you may encounter.
For instance, you can reach out to a few more vendors to ensure that if the chosen one fails to show up, you’ll have others to fall back on. Considering an indoor location for the event should also be considered just in case the weather changes for the worse.
Set boundaries
One of the reasons why many event planners are stressed out is that they don’t set any boundaries and indulge their clients long after their working day has ended. Don’t fall into the same trap and let everyone know what your scheduled availability is. Doing so will ensure that you always have time to rest and relax.
While it is undoubtedly true that event planners live and breathe through the satisfaction of their clients, it is never worth putting your well-being at risk. By making sure that you establish clear boundaries, you’ll keep yourself from burning out and making mistakes that could potentially compromise the event.
Delegate
As event planners, it is easy to give in to the temptation of micromanaging everything. However, not only will you sacrifice productivity by doing so. You’ll also get burned out. Instead, learn to delegate and trust your team to fulfil their responsibilities. In this way, you’ll develop a stronger trust with your team, improve efficiency, and allow yourself to stay focused on your tasks.
Shop first
A common concern for many event planners is keeping within the budget allotted by their respective clients for the event. The good news is that you can overcome this challenge by learning to shop first before making a financial commitment. For example, if you’re looking for a fairground stall hire, you’ll have a better chance of finding one at a good price if you proactively try to look for them rather than if you didn’t.
Stress might be a part of the job in event planning but there are ways to keep it down at a reasonable level. And with these essential tips, you’ll be able to manage your stress and keep it from overwhelming you and affect the quality of your work.
