Planning the fairytale wedding is supposed to be romantic and magical. In reality, the job of the event planner is one of the most stressful in the United States (ranks fifth on CareerCast). According to Jokima Hiller, instructor of hospitality and restaurant administration at Missouri State University, the stress leads many to leave this industry that they love due to burnout.

“A lot of stress goes on in planning and carrying it (the wedding or corporate affair) out, and the meeting planner wants to make sure it’s just perfect!” she said. “Within the meeting planning business, there’s so much self-sacrifice, too. We sacrifice our morning by getting up early to prep the venue. We sacrifice in the evening by staying late to make sure the event is being carried out just as it’s planned.”

In her classes, she tries to give students the resources needed to be successful and prepared for the industry. When Hiller recently presented “What About Me? Beating Meeting Planner Burnout!” at the Certified Meeting Planner Conclave in New Orleans, she focused her conference presentation on avoiding complete burnout.

She offered tips like:

• Being prepared and knowing the plan
• Making a routine for yourself that will allow you to take a break throughout the day
• Taking care of yourself at the end of the day
• Connecting with the industry so you feel engaged
• Finding a loved one who will check in with you as a momentary stress reliever

Even the most seasoned pro can experience some fizzle, she noted, and social media has added to the stress of reputation management for the profession.

“Anything from a wedding to a business meeting can be a deal breaker experience for a client. With social media being added into it today – just one thing could go wrong, the client could then tell the world, which would then affect the meeting planner’s business,” she added.

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