According to a recent survey, most event planners love what\nthey do. They report that the creativity of the job, flexibility in work hours,\nand the opportunity to visit new places are all factors that contribute to\ntheir positive satisfaction levels. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
These same planners state that during an event month almost\nhalf are working 15 to 20-hour days and are getting an average of five hours of\nsleep each night. They also report an increased amount of stress related to\nlooming deadlines, budget constraints, and revenue goals, as well as anxiety\nwhen dealing with the high expectations of speakers, vendors, sponsors, guests\nand more. Over an extended period of time, this elevated amount of stress is\nnot a healthy lifestyle for anyone. Burnout is a very real issue in the event\nindustry. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
One of the best ways to avoid burnout is to maintain a\nhealthy work\/life balance. But what does that mean? According to Wikipedia, the\nterm \u201cwork\/life balance\u201d is used to describe the balance that a person needs\nbetween the time allocated for work and other aspects of life such as personal\ninterests, family, and social activities. In other words, a healthy work\/life\nbalance is unique for each person. I may need to sleep 8 hours a night and work\nless than 50 hours per week while another person may be fine with 6 hours of\nsleep per night and a longer work schedule. We all need to find what works for\nus. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
While it may seem to darn near impossible to find a good work\/life balance when you are an event planner, there are things you can do to avoid burnout. Here are six easy steps to better balance in your life. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Standardize Your Schedule <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Planning events may not lend itself to a standard 9 to 5\nschedule but there are still ways to establish routine working hours. When not\nrunning an event, try to maintain a set schedule. Make sure to clearly\ncommunicate your schedule with staff and stick to it no matter what. This\nsuggestion also applies to your off-time. Go to bed and wake up at the same\ntime every day, even on days off. Studies show that regulating your circadian\nrhythms makes you more relaxed and calmer. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n Unplug When You\nCan <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Even during the busy season, make a rule to completely\ndisconnect from your computer or phone after a certain time every day. When you\nhave a day off, resist the urge to check email. Focus on other things that make\nyou happy and get some rest. You\u2019ll be\nbetter able to deal with the stress of work when you go back. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Share the Work<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n If you have a team, delegate tasks so that everyone shares in the responsibility of getting the work done. Delegating shows staff members that you have faith in them and builds a team dynamic that can be very powerful. And the bonus is that not all of the strain falls on you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Manage Expectations<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Create a manageable time frame for answering inquiries and\nbe very clear with both internal and external partners as to what it is. Make\nsure to stay consistent. If you promise that you will return a call within one\nbusiness day, do that every time. This time frame will also help you plan your\nday more effectively. Establish a specific schedule for answering emails and\ncalls (such as after lunch) and reserve time in your calendar to get it\ndone. <\/p>\n\n\n\n