Planning an event can make you feel like you are juggling balls of fire. There are so many things that can go wrong and it seems like it falls completely on your shoulders alone to keep the whole thing from crashing and burning. That's one reason why it seems like a high volume of stress and event planning go hand-in-hand.
It does not need to be this way. You don't need to put yourself in nervous breakdown territory just to put an event together. Following these tips can show you how to plan an event while maintaining your health and sanity:
Create Smaller Tasks
Stress can come from trying to do too many things at once. Break the event down into smaller tasks and write them down on a checklist. Writing down these smaller tasks will help you put the event on paper and allocate different tasks to various people, so you aren't solely responsible for everything from A to Z.
Avoid Multitasking
The ability to multitask is seen as a good trait. It's one of those overused resume buzzwords people use to convey the idea they are a hard worker. There's nothing wrong with working hard. Still, to borrow a football term, you should not out kick your coverage either. Find capable people you trust, form committees from these people and delegate event responsibilities to those committees. Micromanaging every little thing is not good for you or your event staff.
Prepare for Every Scenario
If you are afraid something will go wrong at the last minute, create back-up plans to address any potential problems that could arise. Preparation is a good way to combat stress. You can't control every detail related to an event. Accept that fact and just focus your planning on the details you can control. Don't leave these details to the last minute, though. Do your part to see that everything is in place well ahead of time.
Schedule a Few Breaks
Give your body rest when it requires rest. That means getting plenty of sleep, eating healthy, exercising and carving out downtime where you can do a relaxing activity. Event planners are much more productive and less likely to feel stressed if they take care of themselves.
