As a former public relations executive, I know the nonstop, client-centric world of event planning. It’s mentally, physically and sometimes emotionally taxing.
That said, if we aren’t putting ourselves first, we’re no good to our clients, teams and, most importantly, friends and family. But how can we do better?
Below are 10 practical and actionable recommendations for you to take on in 2025 and beyond.
1. Get PTO Proactive!
Only 25% of Americans use ALL their earned time off. How do we solve this? I use a 6-3-1 approach: Take a week off at least every six months; take a long weekend at least every three months; take a full day or half day at least every month.
Adjust according to your company policy and the reality of your event schedule, but being proactive will help immensely! In addition, so you don’t have those “Sunday Scaries,” make sure your team puts together a “while you were out” email so you don’t have to spend half the day scrolling through messages. Also, block out the two hours of your first day back to clean up your inbox.
2. Learn Something New at Least Once Per Quarter
One of my favorite offsite exercises to lead helps team members understand what they want to learn professionally and personally. Instead of cheesy icebreakers, discover what you can learn from one another, schedule some internal team development sessions and share tips on cooking, gardening, finding cheap flights or whatever your passion may be outside of work. You’ll learn from one another, bond in a practical way and feel good by learning and impacting others.
3. Establish a Five-Minute Wake-Up Routine You Can Do Anywhere
As you travel worldwide, no two days are ever the same. But what’s something important to you that you do no matter where? Is it Wordle? Is it calling your family? Is it meditation? Find a “first thing when I wake up” routine that brings you back home even while on the road.
[Related: 8 Tips and Trends for Well-Being During Group Business Travel]
4. Audit Your Meetings
New research from Microsoft says that joining fewer back-to-back video meetings can positively impact your stress levels. Every week, look at your upcoming meetings on video. Can at least one of those meetings become audio-only? Also, schedule short breaks between video calls to reduce as many back-to-back meetings as possible.
5. Lead With Empathy
Why does having the perspective of others help your mental health? Often, the unanswered questions or thoughts are the ones that can impact our sleep, our confidence and our mood. So, what does this mean in practice? When working with a new client, ask yourself a few questions: What are their personal goals and ambitions? What’s keeping them up at night? This will help you immensely as you build a relationship with them.
6. Sweat for Your Brain
Sweating for 20 minutes three times per week is essential for your physical and mental health. What does this look like in practice? A hike, a jump rope or a kettlebell session—please learn about proper form or technique—are perfect examples. You should be able to speak for maybe 1-2 sentences max during these routines, but not in a conversational tone.
[Related: Tips and Tricks for Combating Jet Lag and Business Travel Fatigue]
7. Micromanage Your Money
Ensure you have a plan and are conscious and confident about your financial situation and investments. Meet with a financial advisor at least once per quarter.
8. Set Aside Time to Think About Your Career
The meetings and events world is exciting and ever-changing, with opportunities coming almost non-stop. Take a 15-minute pause per quarter and ask yourself: Am I on the right path?
9. Volunteer
Find something you love—not in the meetings space—and donate a few hours monthly. Whether it’s cleaning up your local park, spending time at an animal shelter or something else, giving back is rewarding and helps add perspective to our lives, which can be challenging in the 24/7 world of event planning.
10. Establish Two Unlikely Workspaces
Every week or so, spend time at two unlikely workspaces. One is a quiet, social environment such as a library or coffee shop. The second is outside around nature with nothing but your pen and notepad. This is your thinking time. No devices allowed!
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