If you're like most wedding professionals, you're not only burning the candle at both ends, but you're burning it in the middle, too. For most people, the clients are on one end of the candle and the duties of your business are on the other. In the middle of the burning candle is YOU, your life, and your family. Putting good business and client practices into place will allow you more time for you and your family. Juggling your own health, well-being, social life, and family life takes some focus beyond just having a well-run business, but it's key to preventing burnout.
Managing Life & Clients
No one needs to tell you that couples and their families planning a wedding can be demanding, and maybe a touch needy. Wedding pros are people pleasers, we have to be. We spend a lot of time with each other throughout the planning process. And, to be completely honest, we not only want them to have a fantastic wedding and be happy, but we live and die on the reviews and referrals we get when couples are satisfied. Having good checklists, planning timelines, and being proactive with your clients can keep life level and prevent you from stressing out.
While the names and the personalities may be different, for the most part, wedding planning is the same. It follows the same planning flow and couples usually have the same questions. Leaving project notes on your calendar before the client gets to their next planning project will keep the chaos low. Be proactive and stay ahead of your client's questions to keep your business from running you.
5 Tips to Help With Your Work-Life Balance:
1. Plan
Just like you block time a year or more in advance for clients' weddings and events. Do the same for you! Put a week's vacation on the calendar and then decide as the date gets closer where you want to go. If you don't, you will keep booking weddings and events on any date that comes along.
2. Block Time for You
Block a night out at least once a week, even if that means you're eating takeout pizza at home on the sofa. Sign up for a dance class, go swimming, go to a coffee shop and sit in the corner reading your favorite book. Whatever it is that you enjoy, make time for it.
3. Be Grateful
Sometimes, busy schedules, hectic long weeks with nighttime events, and weekend weddings make you pine for a quieter life. Browsing through other people's social media, when it seems they have life all figured out, and you're struggling to be better and grow your business, can get you down. Look at all the little things in your life that you have to be thankful for and focus on those. A journal or simple note on your calendar might be just enough to remind you of all there is to be grateful for.
4. Move More
Every wedding planner reading this is probably laughing. You were on your feet for sixteen hours at the last wedding, you got home and can barely climb out of the car and make it inside. You have a post-wedding hangover, and now moving more is the answer to preventing burnout? Yes! Take time out of your day, away from sitting at your desk, or running from location to location. Those can take a toll on you. You need to physically and mentally shake out the cobwebs. Take a walk after dinner, do some stretching or yoga in the morning, whatever works for you. But, the critical thing is that keeping the joints moving will not only make you feel better today but may help with that post-wedding hangover, too.
5. Eat Well
You start your day off with coffee and scroll through social media. After a day of taking care of everyone else, somewhere after wedding guests are fed, you realize you didn't eat all day! Sound familiar? Begin your morning with a good breakfast. A grab and go, make-ahead breakfast filled with lots of protein will help. Pack some healthy snacks to keep handy throughout the day. Being on the road with meetings often means eating drive-through food with very few healthy options. So take control of your destiny. The same goes for the wedding day. Keep some quick to grab protein-packed snacks like nuts, protein bars, or cheese sticks with you.
Taking care of yourself is the best way to keep your life balanced and prevent burnout. A good business plan and a streamlined process will give you time to take care of yourself and spend time with those you love.
Hero photo courtesy A & L Events and Lauren Renée
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