How to make sure planning your next event doesn’t increase your stress levels

Some people say event planning is stressful. I think quite the opposite.

To me, it’s one big jigsaw puzzle.

How?

Well, a jigsaw puzzle comes in a box with an image on the cover of what the final picture should look like. This is analogous to your client coming to you with a vision of what they want their event to look like!

Then, in order to get to that final image, you have to put all the right pieces together – and that’s what happens while planning an event. You have to find all the right vendors who can create the vision your client is expecting.

People who intentionally embark on solving puzzles don’t view them a source of stress. In fact, many people buy and do puzzles because they are challenging, captivating, and calming. It helps them relax and de-stress. 

While I wouldn’t go as far as to say event planning is a tool to de-stress and relax, I do believe they are a captivating challenge that can be successfully executed while remaining cool, calm, and collected!

Here are my top 3 suggestions for what you can do to make sure you don’t stress yourself out planning your next event:

1.     SLEEP. I know what you’re thinking – you’re in the middle of planning an event and don’t have time to sleep. Ohhhh you couldn’t be more wrong! You won’t have an event if you pass out from sleep deprivation or if you’re so drunk with sleepiness that you make mistakes while planning and then you have to backtrack on all the progress (you think) you made. So, get that sleep and be bright eyed and bushy tailed when you’re in planning mode.

2.     Now that you’ve slept, it’s time to make lists. Seriously, to-do lists are going to be your BEST FRIEND. Write down everything. There are so many moving pieces when planning an event so you should have one location where you are writing down all the event related ideas and must-do’s throughout the planning process. TIP: If you’re an Apple user, the Notes app is CLUTCH. You can take notes on the go with your iPhone and have access to those notes on your MacBook when you’re no longer on the go. Not an Apple user? Evernote is also a great option for this.

3.     Stay open minded. Things change all the time when planning an event - even up to the last minute. Clients ask for the seemingly impossible, personal life gets in the way, and something simply pisses you off. All of this means you’re forced to listen to and entertain a new idea which often times immediately leads to negative reactions (and increased stress!) because it’s throwing you off track. If however, you’re mentally prepared for these things to happen, to pivot to a new direction - you’ll be able to make the decisions necessary to maintain your event planning progress.  

Altogether, yes, event planning can be stressful but it doesn’t have to be. It may not be a calming activity like a jigsaw puzzle but it’s a challenge that when successfully executed presents a captivating final picture. Like finishing a puzzle, completing an event is incredibly rewarding.

 Next time you’re starting to feel stressed about planning an event, remember to take care of yourself by getting enough sleep, making lists of all the big and little details, and staying open minded.