Event planners: Beat Stress With Mindfulness Exercises
The duties of an event planner can be overwhelming. Dealing with clients, making phone calls, searching for a great venue, and budgeting all contribute to the daily stress a planner has to absorb on a daily basis. How can an event planner cope? Read below to find out how stress affects you physically and mentally, and how mindfulness can take the stress out of your being.
The effects of stress on the body
Stress can have negative effects on your body and behavior. For example:
Physical Effects
- Fatigue
- Muscle tension or pain
- Chest pain
- Headache
- Upset stomach
- Sleep problems
Mood
- Anger or Irritability
- Feeling overwhelmed
- Lack of motivation or focus
- Anxiety
- Sadness or depression
How to de-stress with mindfulness
How does mindfulness help event planners alieve these negative symptoms and what is it? Well, mindfulness is rooted in the Buddhist practice of meditation, and the foundation consists of the basic principles of posture, breath, and thought.
Mindful Posture
The ideal posture for exercises of mindfulness consists of a sitting position with a straight, relaxed, spine. Shoulders should be slightly back, causing your back to straighten. Upper arms should be parallel with your sides with hands resting comfortably above your knees. Your feet should be planted on the ground. Your chin should be tilted slightly downward, but not enough to make your neck feel strained. Eyes should be half open, but don’t be tempted to focus on one spot: just let your gaze fall naturally.
Mindful Breathing
The second principle of mindfulness is breathing. Your breathing should be deep and slow, and instead of breathing with your shoulders, you should breathe with your stomach. Don’t over think how you are breathing.
Mindful Thinking
The last principle of mindfulness deals with thoughts. During these exercises, thoughts of different types will begin to flow in. The key is to begin with thoughts that are not judgments. Your thoughts should just be observations of how your life is currently going. Be aware of your surroundings and with whom you interact. When worries begin to seep in with your observations, just shift your focus to your breathing, and then begin focusing on observations yet again.
Mindful exercises should, initially, last about 5 to 10 minutes. As you get used to paying attention to your surroundings and strengthening your attention span, you can increase the time you spend meditating.
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