The Importance of Boundaries for Event Professionals

By Nicole Nichols, MS, CMP, DES, Associate Director of Events and Marketing, The New York Academy of Medicine

“No worries, we can make it happen.” “I’m here for you day or night.”

These are some things you may have heard from an event professional. We put the "can" in "can do" but at what cost to our mental health? If we are available day and night for our clients then who is here for us?

Mental Health and the Events Industry has only recently become synonymous since COVID-19 came onto the scene. In the article “Mental Health and the Business Events Industry,” the PCMA’s COVID-19 Recovery Dashboard survey (April 2022), found more than 1/3 of planners said they felt anxious or burned out; 88 percent felt exhausted; 78 percent said they were feeling negative about their job; and nearly half said they were less efficient.[1]

How, in an industry that is known for “making things happen,” can event professionals feel empowered to make their mental health important to avoid burnout?

It’s called Creating Boundaries, and this is what we can do.

Value Your Time.

Event planning is not a 9-to-5 industry, but that doesn’t mean we cannot make time for self-care. Take a mental health break, which could be taking a 30-minute walk, closing your office door for few minutes to regroup, or taking a vacation.  

Protecting yourself is protecting your client.

You are no good to anyone if you are not at the top of your game. We are part of an industry where we deal with a multitude of personalities, internally and externally. That takes a lot. Boundaries create a level of essential protection.

Create a clear understanding of each party's wants and needs.

Understand the assignment and manage your client’s expectations upfront, as well as them managing yours. It’s not a one-way transaction, but in fact a partnership.

Be the expert.

This is why our clients come to us. Do not be afraid to exert your expertise while guiding clients to a successful event. Boundaries do not diminish the client experience but rather enhance it.

Create a safe space to say "no"

Saying "no" isn't always a negative thing; it in fact often means there are other options to explore, so feel empowered to say "no" when necessary.

Boundaries are not meant to be obstacles, but instead a light at the end of the tunnel, enabling event professionals to bring their whole, best selves to the experience.

[1] Mental Health and the Business Events Industry, 

Mental Health and the Business Events Industry (pcma.org)