Cvent guest blog: How to beat stress and avoid burnout

As an event planner, you know better than anyone else the stress and pressure that come with organising an event. Whether it is a corporate conference, a charity fundraiser or a seminar, the demands of your role can be overwhelming. While it is important to deliver results and exceed expectations, it is equally vital that you take care of yourself and manage stress effectively. In this guide, we will explore some practical tips and strategies to help you beat burnout and stress.

1. Set clear boundaries
It's important for events business leaders to set clear boundaries with team briefs and
client agreements to make better decisions based on employee wellbeing. They should
be clear on policies that protect staff from burnout and ensure clients understand and
comply with them. As an individual, setting personal boundaries, turning off notifications,
and building in time for oneself is key to staving off stress.

2. Focus on individual strengths and delegate (if possible)
As the role of an event planner has evolved in the last few years, we've had to learn new
technologies and develop new content, which can be a bit overwhelming. This has
resulted in an increase in stress levels, especially for junior staff members who may feel
hesitant to ask for help. As senior leaders, it's essential to recognise when someone is
struggling and needs additional support. That help could come from suppliers as well as
colleagues.

3. Prioritise self-care
We know that organising events can be stressful and exhausting, and you're at a higher
risk of burnout if you don't take sufficient time to unwind between events. But taking a
break doesn't mean doing nothing - it's all about using your brain differently and
embracing hobbies or outside interests that allow you to reset. After a high-pressure
event, you should take time to regroup - whether that’s finding an active hobby that
allows you to reset and get energised or sitting quietly at home and relaxing.

4. Automate systems and processes
Work smarter – not harder. If you want to lighten your workload, lean on technology to
do the heavy lifting. For example:

• Project management tools like Asana and Trello help organise tasks, track progress
and allow you to assign help to those team members that need it.
• You can save yourself valuable time by using venue sourcing technology to automate
tasks like sending RFPs and generating reports.
• By implementing digital check-in, you can eliminate the stress associated with finding
and checking off names manually onsite.
• Storing data in a single tech stack helps you assess event performance and delegate
satisfaction quickly and effectively, giving you some much-needed headspace after your event!

5. Staying organised and managing your time wisely is critical in our fast-paced industry.
Don't always focus on easy deadlines first because leaving more challenging tasks until
the last minute will heighten your stress levels.

Plan more difficult tasks in between two easy ones, so you can give yourself time to
recuperate after a tough day. Check-lists are your friend in this job and will help you
visualise how long each task will take so you can work towards achievable deadlines. It
will also give you a sense of achievement each time you check something off.


Organising and executing events always involves deadlines, making it a sector that's prone to pressure. However, it's important to eliminate the notion that stress is an unavoidable aspect of event management. Implementing the tips and strategies outlined in this guide will help you to stay focused, organised and calm throughout the event planning process.

For more information on reducing stress, as well as other key trends shaping the industry this year, check out our eBook, 9 Event Trends To Watch Out For In 2023.