Event planners and producers are no strangers to stress and anxiety, but the last two years have put an additional strain on what were already very challenging and demanding roles. Society in general and the events industry in particular have finally been opening up more conversations around the importance of mental health and overall wellbeing as the pandemic takes a toll on all of us.
As we gear up for a new year, XLIVE asked event professionals across the industry to share how they’re taking care of themselves and their teams in these crazy times. Here are 5 ways event professionals are prioritizing their mental health and wellbeing in 2022.
Setting Aside Time to Recharge
Robyn Duda, Founder, RDC
The RDC team and I believe in "Sacred Time." Sacred time are the moments that bring joy throughout the week — a walk with a friend, Pilates, volunteering, hiking. We each agreed to block sacred time in our calendars that cannot be moved. Along with making us happy, we believe experiencing the world makes us better at what we do.
Virginie Raimondi, Head of Production Teams, EGG EVENTS
Working from home has been a challenge for a lot of people because they do not set boundaries and/or have a schedule, so I’ve been blocking time in my calendar to catch up on emails and work out. This helps make sure that people respect my breaks and that I have some time set aside to unwind and breathe every day.
In addition, we have a communications policy within our team that encourages us to limit contact with each other after work hours, during weekends, or while on vacation. I also meditate regularly, and I force myself to delete Outlook and Teams from my phone during my time off so that I get out of the habit of constantly checking my emails when I’m not supposed to be working.
Recognizing When It’s Time to Slow Down
Mia Masson, Head of Content, Swapcard
Going into the new year, we usually see people with bold, aspirational resolutions and promises of a "new year, new me!" There is a lot of pressure on social media at the moment to improve yourself, give up bad habits, work even harder. But I think it's also okay to be proud of yourself for simply getting through the last two years in one piece.
It's crazy what's happening in our world; the uncertainty and tragedy can easily take a toll on our mood and outlook. We don't have to always be striving to improve. Sometimes self-care means resting more, working less, and not comparing ourselves to what we see on social media. Covid has affected everyone differently. I've been unable to see my family due to travel restrictions. I lost a pregnancy last year, and that was really difficult. I worked too hard, too long hours sometimes. But I've gotten through it by reminding myself that it's okay if I'm not always okay, by relying heavily on my support system (family, friends, and my team at Swapcard), and by not feeling guilty for not breaking personal productivity records every single day of the week.
Rachel Andrews, Senior Director of Meetings & Events, Cvent
Managing a team and running so many events per year, it’s pretty hard to prioritize your own mental health with so much going on. A few things I try to adhere to:
First, prioritize relationships. Work is important but never more important than the relationships I hold dear, so try to speak to at least one friend a day.
Second, admit when I don’t feel myself. I usually take a few steps to get back to “myself” 1. breathe 2. identify what is dragging me down (sometimes writing it out can be cathartic) 3. drink plenty of water 4. do a workout or something active outside (every minute of sunlight is an added bonus!)
And third, find time to laugh. Take a second in a meeting to laugh about something, tell a joke, a personal story etc. We are all human so take a moment to be human.
Sticking to a Routine and Prioritizing Kindness
Danny Hardman, Director of Business Development, PRG
Being an event production professional during the pandemic has been psychologically taxing. Consequently, fortifying my mental endurance has become a daily practice. I found a way to prioritize my own mental health, and while everyone has a different formula, the following has served me well. I found that discipline does in fact equal freedom (from my own worries).
First, start every day early — the morning is mine from 4am to 6am. This time is for exercise and education and has nothing to do with work. I’ll often listen to investing podcasts to feel like an active participant in my own future success and/or I’ll feed my mind something spiritually enriching. I will commonly run through the dark woods with a head lamp. The goal is to emerge from the forest at sunrise…feeling energized and reborn as the rest of the world is just waking up. This provides a mental win…seeing the sun come up is spiritually boosting.
Second is nutrition and sleep – times of stress require nutrition to be properly dialed in. My wife is a nutritionist. Gut and brain health are incredibly important to be the best version of ourselves. They are also intimately connected to each other. Often, a simple nutrient deficiency can result in a “mental bonk” and therefore I am sure to supplement broadly with emphasis on organic whole foods, lion’s mane mushrooms for cognitive support, liposomal magnesium and other brain supporting oils.
Last but not least is human kindness – this part has had the greatest return on my time investment. During the pandemic I developed a passive revenue stream that allows me to support families with sick children that require help with medical bills. This noble project has been a lovely distraction from the global chaos. This has provided me with tremendous joy beyond measure. The act of supporting humanity in my own small way feels like I am contributing to a better future. It is measurable in my heart and makes everything else in my life easier to deal with. Sometimes, the key to perseverance is simply getting out of your own way and helping others.
Paulina Curto, Senior Manager of Meetings & Events, Cvent
Engage with empathy. This is something my father instilled in me at a young age, he used to say, “You just never know what someone is going through, just be kind.” I’ve found this to be ever so useful particularly over these last 18 months. We connect over so many channels of communication – chat messaging, email, video conference meetings – but a lot body language, tone and intent can still be lost, so it’s important to remember there’s a person in the other screen.
Today to-do lists. This is a new take on an oldie but a goodie. I used to make to-do lists that were literally, full stop, pages long. It got to a point where I was making the list and never allowing myself a reasonable opportunity to successfully complete them. So I re-framed my mindset and started making to-do lists for “today” and anything that has a different deadline is added to a separate list – this has been a great way to prioritize and minimize feeling overwhelmed.
Feel-Good Moments. I read a post on Instagram that suggested creating a new note in your phone and each time you have a small victory or complete something you’ve been meaning to, write it down. Once you’ve gotten to 5, you call a family member or someone special to you who you haven’t spoken to recently (in my case my grandmother) and tell them about the small victories, making their day and your own.
Practicing Mindfulness
Tom Kehoe, CEO/President, KEHOE DESIGNS
Mental health is a strong focus for me personally and for my team. I start my day with a 10-minute meditation in the mornings, take three walks a day, practice breathing techniques when feeling stressed, and end my day with 10 minutes of gratitude. I also continue to talk with a counselor on a regular basis and encourage friends and coworkers to do the same. I enjoy a massage twice a month and work out five times a week, all with the intention of reducing stress and strengthening my mind and body.
John Martinez, Chief Executive Officer & Founder, Shocklogic
I started meditating about 12 years ago when I found myself at a very difficult point in my life and I was in a very bad place mentally. When I realised the benefits mindfulness had for me personally, I knew that I wanted to bring it to the rest of the company. I wanted to create a common language between all members of the team that is based on compassion, kindness, and mutual support. By creating an environment of trust, people feel that they can express themselves, and innovation and creativity will flourish. We think that the idea of kindness and compassion might be the most important element of wellness. In general, people tend to think of these qualities as being directed towards others, but kindness has to start with the self. The truth is that looking after ourselves — treating ourselves with kindness — is the first step towards making a positive impact in the world.
Seeking Professional Support and Quality Time With Loved Ones
Adam McCarthy, Managing Director, BlackOak Technical Productions
The biggest help to my mental health has been seeing a therapist. Many insurance plans will provide some coverage for this, and Psychology Today is a great way to find a therapist. While therapy is highly effective for me, in between sessions I enjoy using tools like journaling (paper notebook or an app like Day One), practicing mindfulness (simple breathing and grounding exercises or guided meditation in an app like Calm), consistent physical activity away from my desk and screens, and other structured mental health tools to supplement professional therapy (Bloom App).
Working in the event industry brings unique challenges to working towards a healthy lifestyle so I have focused on staying connected to all the facets of my life beyond my career like relationships, family, adventure, fitness, and physical health. For example, my wife and I are running the Chicago Triathlon with Team Bright Side (Midwest friends should join us!), which is a powerful combination of community, charity, and physical activity all in one adventure.
As a team at BlackOak Technical Productions, we focus on creating an environment for people to prioritize caring for their mental health. We share external resources, use kindness as our first approach to any situation, openly discuss our mental wellbeing, and act as a support network for each other.
Andrew Roby, Event Producer, Andrew Roby Events
When it comes to managing stress, I've done a number of things to protect my mental health. I've started with scaling back on how many events and weddings my team takes on. Yes, we want to reach our sales goals, but we have altered the direction of the type of clients we want to work with. Doing this helps to decrease the demand we place on our calendars and frees us up to spend more time with family and friends.
I have personally started back therapy to ensure I stay up to date on tools to keep me grounded. Books like The Body Keeps The Score by Bessel Van Der Kolk, MD has been an eye opener as well. Most importantly, I no longer engage on Instagram or Facebook from a personal account and don't plan to return. I'm more mindful of the things that I consume. I don't want to spend my day consuming work-related posts nor do I want to allow into my spirit negative posts from friends who mean well, but don't realize the path they are on by consuming so much of other people's drama on social media.