According to CareerCast, meeting planning is among the most stressful professions. That’s right; if you are a meeting planner, you are right up there with air traffic controllers, police officers and military personnel.
Indeed, planners know full well stress that includes constantly shifting priorities and the ongoing need to juggle multiple demands day in and day out.
Handling all that in a manageable way requires more than simple acceptance of the stress that comes with your job. Your challenge is learning how to direct stress in positive, productive ways, and perhaps most importantly, mentally disengaging at the end of the day so you can return the next morning feeling refreshed and energized.
Consider the following four-step wellness approach that is both flexible and easily implemented.
[More Meetings Wellness Content: www.meetingstoday.com/wellness]
1. Create That Daily To-Do List
While this may seem like nothing new, this step is often overlooked as a tool for lowering stress and the anxiety that accompanies it. Just as brushing teeth is typically part of one’s nightly routine, place the same importance on making a to-do list as a part of your end-of-day routine. You’ll be surprised how writing tasks down helps offload them from your mind and creates a sense of closure. Make one list, keep it in one place and carry unfinished items forward so nothing falls through the cracks. Many people find that physically writing tasks down improves recall and reduces mental clutter.
2. Use Bright’s ‘Anchor Quick Charge’ for Closing Your Workday
Bright’s Anchor Quick Charge is a mental technique I designed to signal the end of your workday. Choose something you do consistently while traveling—i.e., returning to your hotel room, picking a restaurant or changing clothes—and let it become your symbol for “work is done.” Some people prefer setting a specific time on their phone or watch.
With the Anchor Quick Charge, your selected “anchor” activates your mind to disengage from work.
[Related: WITT Releases New Wellness Credential for Meeting Planners]
3. Reward Yourself—in a Healthy Way
Do something just for you. Exercise, read, relax, order your favorite entree at dinner or unwind at your own pace. Exercise, even light movement, can be beneficial after a long day. If the gym feels unappealing, try walking the hotel hallways for 10 minutes. It reflects the philosophy that “some is better than none.”
4. Reframe End-of-Day Conversations
When connecting with loved ones and friends, avoid asking, “How was your day?” That question often pulls you back into replaying everything you’re trying to put behind you. Instead, try asking, “Did anything new or interesting happen today?”
Practicing these four steps will direct your stress in more positive ways by allowing you to recharge more effectively and enjoy your work with greater clarity and energy.
