Mental Fitness is actively taking care of your mental health by engaging in practices that involve developing coping strategies, fostering self-awareness, and adopting proactive steps that promote mental well-being. Just as personal hygiene is important for physical health, your mental hygiene and fitness are crucial for maintaining positive well-being
In the events and wedding industry, professionals often face high levels of stress and pressure due to the demanding nature of their work. The profession continues to rank as high as 5 and 6 as the top most stressful industries, and death by suicide is on the rise. One may wonder how it is that an industry that promotes entertainment and happiness could also present such an impact on those who love it. Today, we're exploring how building mental fitness can help you overcome burnout!
Let’s think about the why
Event and wedding professionals often encounter long hours, tight deadlines, demanding clients, environmental changes, and the need to deliver flawless results. The need to produce amazing results contributes to the development of mental health challenges such as anxiety, depression, and substance abuse. In addition, we have found that burnout is another challenge that professionals face and discuss as a gateway to mental health issues and early retirement. Subsequently, the pressure of being the best for others impacts boundaries, self-worth and awareness, and inner joy and love for the work.
One of the most influential mental fitness/self-care practices to support your professional and personal well-being while disrupting burnout is boundary control. Boundary control empowers professionals to engage in self-care, establish self-ownership and foster respectful and harmonious interactions with clients and colleagues.
What does boundary control look like?
Boundary control is identifying and managing your limits as an event and wedding professional. We must ask ourselves, “What am I willing to share and receive from others and myself?” We have found that many professionals face the challenge of exchanging the demand of excessive work time and prolonged stress for the happiness of others. Ultimately, putting themselves last on the list to support. Here are a few tips for boundary control and putting yourself top of the list.
- Identify and reflect on personal and professional values, needs, and priorities.
- Communicate open and clear limits on time and energy allocated to clients, business, and personal activities.
- Establish expectations for acceptable behavior in relationships for both parties.
- Say no and yes when appropriate.
- Protect personal space and time that includes personal breaks and time for relaxation and privacy
- Recognize and manage triggers that impact emotional boundaries
- Evaluate relationships, business practices for potential adjustment, and prioritizing.
- Follow the policies and rules that you set in place for your clients and colleagues.
Why are mental fitness practices like boundary control important for industry professionals?
As professionals continue to produce amazing events, boundary control to disrupt burnout is fundamental for stress management and seeking inner peace. Self-Care and self-awareness techniques such as mindfulness, deep breathing exercises, and understanding triggers and coping mechanisms help in coping with high levels of stress and prevent burnout. It is also essential to set limits on your day and interaction with others by prioritizing your calendar or schedule based on what works best for you, developing a healthy work-life balance that incorporates time for vacation and relaxation, and building a strong support system that understands the industry. Moreover, preventing the onset of burnout by utilizing mental fitness and self-care practices is key; however, you must follow the policies that you have set for yourself and your business. Also, seeking professional help for persistent mental health challenges can provide guidance and interventions that are tailored to your specific needs.
Mental fitness practices like boundary control are key to career longevity for event and wedding professionals. It establishes resilience, emotional intelligence and self-regulation, proactive self-reflection, job satisfaction, and cultivates a positive mindset. With this, professionals become better equipped to navigate the challenges and pressures of the industry, reducing the risk of burnout and promoting career sustainability.
Learn more about the author
Charessa Sawyer is a certified event planning professional and owner of SC Visionary Planning & Production Services, a global events agency for businesses, nonprofits, and corporate leaders. She offers experiential event planning, logistics, and management services for businesses that are focused on business growth and exposure. In addition to event planning, Charessa provides key therapeutic strategies and resources to support event industry professionals through her Event Therapy™️ Network and is the author of Event Therapy: 10 Steps to Ultimate Event Planning, SCV: A Glimpse into A Kick Ass Team, and publisher of Event Therapy ™ Publication.
Charessa’s goal to address mental health in the event and entertainment industry has grown to service a number of professionals across the globe through its support groups and mental health-focused events. As a licensed master of social work, Charessa is not shy about addressing tough issues and producing events to bring awareness. Her event company is known for its attention to detail and to the well-being of its clients.
Follow Charessa
- Charessa Sawyer, LMSW, CEP
- Event Therapy Network & Magazine
- @eventtherapynetwork
- www.eventtherapynetwork.com
- hello@eventtherapynetwork.com
- Atlanta, Georgia
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