Having Patience While Planning

By Beth Noll, Event Planning Manager, Corporate College

I have worked with hundreds of planners over the years, ranging from novices who are planning their first meeting for 10 people to experienced planners setting up a conference for hundreds. Often, people think that planning an event is fun and easy, but the reality is that it’s often time consuming, stressful and takes them out of their comfort zone of their “normal” job requirements. 

I have found that one of the key elements to planning is patience.  Below are some patience-practicing tips that I hope you will find useful.

1. Go for a walk. Get out of your workspace regularly for a breath of fresh air. This will help clear your mind come back refreshed for your tasks.
2. Do something creative. Even if it is just doodling on a piece of paper, this will momentarily take your mind off what is stressing you.
3. Take a deep breath. This is one of my favorites. Take a deep breath, inhaling through your nose and exhaling through your mouth. After I do this several times, I can start to feel the tension release from my shoulders.
4. Ask for help. Two brains are better than one, so ask a friend or coworker who is removed from the situation for assistance.
5. Daydream. Think of the happiest moment in your life and replay it in your mind from beginning to end.

We currently find ourselves in a vastly different time, living and working through a pandemic. I hope you can take some time when planning your organization’s next board meeting or symposium to stop and think about some of the tips I have listed here. They really can help you reduce stress and have patience while planning!