8 Ways for Planners to Avoid Burnout 

There’s no question that planning meetings is stressful and sometimes leads to burnout. Not addressing what you’re feeling could eventually affect your job performance, disrupt your personal relationships, and spiral into depression or substance abuse. 

The best way to deal with burnout is to know how to identify it up front and intervene quickly, said Rebecca Schwartz, Ph.D. Schwartz, an associate professor at the Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra-Northwell.

Here are 8 tips from Schwartz and other experts to help planners be proactive about burnout:

1. Catch symptoms of stress early.

Stress manifests itself in various forms, but recognizing when your behaviors start to change because of stress is the first step. Look out for resources that may be available either inside or outside of your work setting. Since Covid, mental well-being has taken center stage, so you will find plenty of resources.

2. Check in regularly with your colleagues.

 “We use a color-coded Stress Continuum to check in on staff,” said Schwartz. “Green: I’m feeling good, and can support others. Yellow: Mild to moderate stress but coping. Orange: I’m feeling significant stress and need some support. Red: Stress is so high that it’s preventing me from functioning, and I need to get some care. The colors create a common language that takes away a little of that stigma that comes from admitting directly how we’re feeling.” 

3. Be sure to take breaks.

Schedule a daily pause. Schwartz recommends taking 5 minutes, sitting down with a group or on your own, and doing a mindfulness exercise. It’s also good for your body to get up from your desk, even if it’s only 5 minutes every hour.

4. No matter what, take your vacation.

Many companies are now making time off mandatory—and for good reason. Being frantically busy all the time has become the status quo in companies that are short-staffed and asking employees to take on more responsibility. As tempting as it is to check work emails, give yourself a window when you aren’t thinking about your to-do list or the mountains of items you will face when you return.

5. Take care of your body.

Exercise regularly, even if it’s just a little every day. Take advantage of any workplace health and wellness programs, which are often a combination of exercise, yoga and personal health coaching. Some people find meditation helpful, and regular massages can be potent stress relievers. To back up your physical wellness, eat well, drink in moderation and get enough sleep.

6. Make your outside interests a priority.

Focus on whatever brings you pleasure, whether it’s dinner with friends, a book club, a hobby, or a weekly pickleball game, to give yourself a break from thinking about work. 

7. Lean on your people.

Whether it’s friends or colleagues or both, a sympathetic ear can help ease your stress. And a network of experienced colleagues may be able to make suggestions you can bring back to the workplace.

8. Focus on your personal and professional development.

It may seem counterintuitive to add more work when your workload is already daunting, but learning new skills helps if you feel stuck in your job – which is one of the top 5 stressors at work, according to the Society for Human Resource Management. Even if you choose to learn an entirely different skill, like creative writing or a new language, it’s a way to focus on your growth.