In this piece, Lucy Eden, founder of Be In Your Element Events, discusses the importance of pausing, reflecting and ensuring that your team is prioritised.
As we head into a powerful cluster of awareness dates, International Women’s Day, International Day of Happiness, World Sleep Day, and Employee Appreciation Day, event professionals have a unique opportunity to pause and reflect.
We are exceptional at designing experiences that elevate others. But how often do we intentionally design those same experiences for our own teams?
In an industry driven by deadlines, client expectations, long hours, travel, and high emotional labour, wellbeing can quietly slip down the priority list. Yet these awareness days serve as a timely reminder: the way we care for our people internally is just as important as the way we care for our guests externally.
We design experiences, but are we designing them for our teams?
Event professionals understand better than anyone that how people feel is what they remember. The lighting, the catering, the keynote, they matter. But it’s the atmosphere, the energy, the sense of belonging that lingers long after.
The same principle applies inside our organisations. Employee Appreciation Day is not just about a thank-you email. International Day of Happiness is not just about a motivational quote on Slack. World Sleep Day is not just a nod to burnout culture. And International Women’s Day cannot be reduced to a panel and a LinkedIn post.
They are prompts. Invitations to ask:
- Are our teams rested?
- Do they feel seen?
- Are we creating psychologically safe spaces?
- Are we giving people permission to prioritise their wellbeing?
In an industry that thrives on connection, we have a duty of care that goes far beyond delivering inspiring content.
Women represent around 70% of the events industry. They are the project managers, producers, marketers, coordinators, and leaders holding experiences together behind the scenes. And yet, many rarely take time for themselves. That’s why the Women in Events Retreats, part of Be in your Element, was created.
We heard the call. Women in our industry needed space, real space. To pause, connect, reflect, and recharge but they rarely allow themselves to take it. There is always another deadline, another pitch, another event. As event professionals, we understand the power of bringing like-minded people together. We do it every day, connecting tech teams with marketing, suppliers with buyers, brands with audiences. We curate environments that spark collaboration and innovation. So why wouldn’t we create that same intentional space for the women and non-binary professionals who make our industry what it is?
Spaces like the Women in Events Retreat are not indulgent. They are necessary. They foster peer support, shared understanding, leadership development, and genuine rest. And when women feel supported and resourced, the ripple effect touches entire organisations.
Wellbeing Is a strategic priority, not a soft extra. If there’s one message to take from this week of awareness days, it’s this: wellbeing is not a “nice to have.” It is foundational to performance, creativity, and retention.
Sleep fuel’s cognitive function. Appreciation builds loyalty. Happiness increases productivity. Inclusion drives innovation.
We already know how to design impactful experiences. Now we must apply that same intentionality internally:
- Build recovery time into event cycles.
- Create cross-functional connection spaces.
- Offer real flexibility.
- Invest in retreats, mentoring, and community-building.
- Measure team wellbeing with the same seriousness as client satisfaction.
Because in events, how we make people feel leaves a lasting impression. That applies to our guests, and it applies to our teams.
As we celebrate International Women’s Day, International Day of Happiness, World Sleep Day, and Employee Appreciation Day, let this be more than awareness. Let it be action.
We have a responsibility not just to create extraordinary moments, but to give back to the people who make them possible.
If you’re ready to prioritise wellbeing in a meaningful way, you can book your space at the Women in Events Retreat here:
Or, if you’d like support on where to start embedding wellbeing into your culture and creating unforgettable experiences that make a real difference to people’s lives, get in touch at hello@yourelementevents.com.
Because we don’t just create events. We create environments where people thrive.