Following International Men’s Day 2022 (19 November), Helen Kronheim, COO, Live Group, shares her top tips on how to manage stress, sleep and social overwhelm in our busy industry.
At Live Group, we are aware of the importance of health and wellbeing. After all, in our industry, the most valuable asset is our people.As event professionals, we often work long hours, to tight deadlines and with high expectations – a lifestyle that, if not properly managed, could easily result in health issues.
We know that men in particular have a tendency to take an ‘ostrich’ approach to their health, which is why we believe the events industry needs to shine a spotlight on International Men’s Day this year.
For example, studies have shown that men are less likely than women to visit the doctor and most won’t go at all unless they have a serious problem, with more than a third waiting for pain to become ‘unbearable’ before seeking help. Additionally, almost half of men (40%), say they won’t talk about their mental health despite men making up 75% of all deaths by suicide.
I believe the events industry poses three main challenges for both men and women; managing stress, managing sleep and managing social overwhelm.
Here’s my advice for creating a positive workplace where everyone can thrive.
Managing stress
It’s obviously natural to feel under pressure at work. But constantly juggling demands and meeting deadlines can easily turn pressure into stress. Feeling consistently stressed sends our blood pressure sky high, stops us sleeping properly, can trigger panic attacks and causes a host of symptoms which can prevent us doing our jobs and living our lives effectively.
When things get busy, it’s important to maintain a self-care routine. Endeavour to get enough sleep, eat well, stay hydrated, do things we enjoy and make time for moving our bodies – whether that’s a walk around the block or a session at the gym. Meditation also comes highly recommended.
Employers should do everything they can to encourage staff to maintain healthy boundaries between work and home, such as introducing flexible working hours. When the pressure builds, it’s important for people to take time away from their desk, switch off their phones and close down their email, whether that’s to do the school run, walk the dog, nip to the shops or just to take a break.
Managing sleep
We all know sleep is essential for health and a lack of it can affect concentration, make us irritable and lead to long-term health problems. Although skipping sleep to get work done can sometimes seem like a good idea, we are more likely to be less productive and able to make decisions.
Whenever possible, it’s recommended that we establish healthy sleep patterns by keeping to the same bedtime and waking time each day. For event managers, it’s not always possible to commit to this regular sleep routine. Event management often involves working into the early hours to set up a job, attending events out of hours or travelling internationally to run events in different time zones.
It’s been reported that it can take up to four days to recover from just one hour of lost sleep. As an industry, we must recognise how important it is for staff to recharge and claim back overtime or weekends work to encourage rest and recuperation as soon as a busy project is complete. For example, Live Group offers a simple and flexible Time Off in Lieu (TOIL) system to support our people in this way.
Managing social overwhelm
Event professionals are constantly communicating. From team members, to clients, to suppliers, it can feel like one continuous conversation, especially when we’re working on location. Add in the expectation of extra-curricular social events and entertaining clients, along with the fear of missing out on team drinks, and it can easily begin to feel like every waking moment is spent in the company of others.
While people working in the events industry do tend to be social beings, we all need downtime to gather our thoughts, slow down and refocus.
We shouldn’t be afraid to say no to things that aren’t compulsory. We shouldn’t feel awkward heading back to our hotel room for a rest. Carving out time alone can be all it takes to leave us refreshed and ready to go again.
