You're overwhelmed with planning multiple events. How can you maintain work-life balance amidst the chaos?

First, take off your cape and realize we aren’t subhuman nor perfect. Once that pressure is off, what are the low hanging fruit that you can quickly cross off your list? What are the most pressing tasks: Signing of a contract? Securing an offsite venue? Building a registration site? Submitting a rooming list? Can a teammate assist with cross-referencing or other small tasks? Sometimes, crossing items off your list give you a sense of accomplishment. After you’ve worked a full day, turn your Outlook to “focus.” That shows you as busy on Teams and blocks your calendar. Unless it’s a true emergency or your client lives in a different timezone, do not answer after-hours. We must create boundaries for our physical and mental wellbeing.

First thing I do is look at my Airtable bases, which have all of my tasks in them. I have synced the due dates with my Google Calendar as well, and I get an email each day with the items that are due per client (color coded). So, even if I’m working on a dozen events at a time, I know where each one is in its life cycle. Then, I look at the month as a whole and start to block time on my calendar to complete deep work, so that no one can book meetings during that time and I stay on top of deadlines. I can identify potential roadblocks or intersecting deadlines and work to rebalance the workload.

It’s all about setting priorities and staying organized! I break tasks into manageable steps and make sure to carve out time for myself, even if it's just a quick walk or a coffee break. With a clear plan, balance is possible, even in the chaos! #WorkLifeBalance #StayOrganized

Prioritize and Plan: List all the events and tasks that need your attention. Identify which ones are the most critical and tackle those first. Using a project management tool or app can help keep everything organized and on track. Delegate: If possible, delegate tasks to others. You don’t have to do everything yourself. Trusting your team or colleagues with certain responsibilities can lighten your load. Set Boundaries: Define clear boundaries between work and personal time. This means setting specific work hours and sticking to them, so you can have dedicated time to relax and recharge. Take Breaks: Short breaks throughout the day can help clear your mind and reduce stress.

Mantener el equilibrio entre el trabajo y la vida personal mientras gestionas múltiples eventos puede ser un desafío, pero es esencial para evitar el agotamiento y mantener tu bienestar. Establece Prioridades Claras Identifica lo Urgente y lo Importante: Usa una matriz de prioridades (como la de Eisenhower) para diferenciar entre tareas urgentes e importantes, y enfócate en lo que realmente necesita tu atención. Delegación Inteligente: Confía en tu equipo y delega tareas que no requieren tu intervención directa. Esto te liberará tiempo para enfocarte en aspectos críticos y en tu bienestar personal.

I strongly believe in blocking time for specific tasks. This keeps me focused and efficient with work that has to get done. When my work day is over, I feel better about closing my laptop knowing I got as much done as I could in the prioritized areas that day. I also have a list waiting for me in the morning of where to pick up.

Setting boundaries is essential. Even during the busy times it's important to establish your work hours and stick to them. Once your day ends resist the temptation to check your email. Blocking out a buffer time for yourself for 30 mins from the end of your day to the start of your personal time to help decompress before your personal activities. It allows you to relax and let the work stress go.

Delegating can be a tough thing to do, especially for an event planner who knows the entire program. But, if you can take a few smaller tasks and ask for some help this free's up so much time. It is important not to work 7 days a week the month leading up to a large event, this is a fast track to burn out.

Have an on-call schedule, not just for the date, but for the planning! Often it's the constant interruption that wears on you, not the actual planning. By encouraging others to check the on-call schedule and ask that person, you are passively training as well as supporting your own delegation efforts.