The week leading up to your event will be hectic and challenging. There are vendors to meet, last-minute agenda changes, and it’s only going to get more chaotic as your event day approaches.
With so much going on, it’s easy to neglect what’s truly important — you.
If you want to ensure your event goes smoothly, you need to avoid burnout and stay sane. Here are a few basic things you should remember to do in the days and weeks leading up to your event.
Create space in your calendar
The weeks leading up to your event can be overwhelming. Your to-do list is seemingly never-ending and when you go to bed at night, there’s a deep-seeded fear that something was forgotten.
Time is a precious commodity. And being proactive about how you spend it can help you hold onto your sanity and avoid costly mistakes. Follow these tips and time will truly be on your side.
1. Gain more hours in the day: If you ever wished there were more hours in the day, you’ll be pleased to know you can. All you have to do is set the alarm a bit earlier. Getting an early start can allow you to tackle nagging to-do list items without having to worry about outside distractions.
2. Don’t neglect your personal to-do list: You likely use to-do lists to manage the event planning process, but what about your personal tasks? A few weeks before your event, set aside time to write out your personal activities — like tidying up and doing laundry.
3. Think about your event-day outfit in advance: Don’t haphazardly pulling clothes out of your closet the morning of your event. Instead, pull together an outfit from head to toe and actually try it on. That way, if something is snug, a button is missing, or if there’s a stain, you’ll have time to fix it or choose an alternate piece.
4. Schedule downtime — and stick to it: When you list out your personal obligations, make sure to include yourself. Studies show that creating space for downtime “increases productivity” and can “dramatically improve mental and physical health.” Block off your personal time on the calendar and commit to it.
Maintain a healthy diet
You only have so many hours in the day, and most — if not all — are spent worrying about your event. Which is why it’s so tempting to opt for takeout or frozen dinners at the end of a long day.
What you may not realize is that a poor diet can contribute to your stress and anxiety. So when you get hungry, skip the drive-thru and plan for more healthy options with these ideas.
5. Meal prepping: Instead of figuring out what to cook at the end of the day, prepare your ingredients ahead of time. In addition to saving time, meal prepping ensures you’ll eat better, healthier meals. Check out Meal Prep Haven’s Meal Prepping 101 For Beginners to get the scoop.
6. Slow cooker recipes: Interested in meal prepping but don’t have the time to cook? No problem. With a slow cooker, all you have to do is add your prepared ingredients before leaving home and your fully cooked dinner will be waiting for you when you get home.
7. Nutritious snacks: To help you stay fueled throughout the day, you’re going to need a few snacks. Instead of greasy chips or sugary treats, stock up on nutritional and delicious foods like dried mango slices, popcorn, or protein bars.
Exercise your body — and your mind
In addition to eating healthy, exercise has been proven to reduce stress and boost your mood. So make sure to pencil in your favorite workout, whether it’s running, spin, yoga, or weight training.
Then don’t forget to exercise your mind with these last tips.
8. Calm your mind with meditation: Mindfulness meditation has been proven to positively impact mental and physical health. It’s a skill that takes practice to get comfortable. Apps like Headspace or Calm can help you develop this habit.
9. Repeat a motivation mantra: Whether chanted, whispered, or silently recited, mantras are affirmations that can help you remain calm and positive throughout the weeks leading up to your event. “A loss today does not mean a loss tomorrow,” for example, is one to say when something out of your control goes wrong.
There’s no doubt that event week will be stressful. But if you take care of yourself, you’ll be better equipped to handle the greatest of challenges.
To be sure everything is set before your event, use this pre-event de-stress checklist.
