In this piece, Lucy Eden, founder of Be In Your Element Events, discusses the importance of managing your stress.
As an event professional, I’ve seen it countless times, the tension in the shoulders, the furrowed brows, the exhausted “I’ll sleep later” look.
Tight timelines, endless checklists, the relentless pressure to deliver perfection. And here’s the kicker: it’s not just in your head. Stress lives in your body, too, headaches, sleepless nights, tight muscles. We’re racing through our work, disjointed from our own selves, while our bodies scream for a pause.
In events, there’s this unspoken badge of honour for being the last one on site, for working late, for powering through. Almost celebrated. But let’s be blunt: your health is your wealth. It’s the investment that pays back in every part of your life, more than any deadline ever will. Bills need paying, events need running, I get it. But if you don’t prioritise yourself, eventually your body will make that choice for you. Stress shows up in other ways, and suddenly, you’re forced to slow down, or stop entirely.
So what’s the fix? How do we prevent that “overflow” before it’s too late?
Think of stress like a bucket. Every task, worry, or pressure adds water. Ignore it, and it spills over (hello overwhelm, burnout, fatigue!) But here’s the good news, you can make holes in the bucket. Small, intentional outlets that let water escape before it floods your life.
Here are my top four “stress holes” every event professional can create, even in the busiest week..
1. Be more human
You’re not a machine. Say no when you need to, take a real break, allow yourself not to be perfect. Even five minutes of undistracted breathing or stretching reminds you, you’re human first, professional second.
2. Be calm
Find your pause. Meditation, mindful walking, or just sipping tea without scrolling your phone, these reset your nervous system. Calm is contagious, it smooths everything around you, from your team to your events.
3. Be connected
Stress isolates us. Create space for real connection, laugh, share a story, sit in presence. Your brain needs to know it’s supported, stress doesn’t thrive in community.
4. Just be
Stop doing. Just exist. Watch a sunrise, feel your breath, notice your body. In a world obsessed with output, this is revolutionary. You’re refilling your bucket, not letting it overflow.
No one else can take care of your health for you. Your career, your events, your life, they all demand your energy. But the more intentional you are about releasing stress, the more energy you actually have to show up fully for yourself and for others.
Event pros: it’s time to create your holes in the stress bucket. Be human, be calm, be connected, just be. Your body will thank you, your mind will thank you, and yes…your work will too.
And if you want hands-on tools to make it happen, we’re here to help. From Stress Less Talks, to our Event Pro Toolkit Sessions, to fun, engaging workshops that elevate stress, you’ll leave equipped, energised, and ready to show up at your very best.
Be in your element. Let’s do this together.
