Stress. We all know it. We’ve all had it. But who has actually found ways to learn from it? To grow? To adapt?
All the late nights, tight deadlines, unexpected problems popping up at the last minute, people you can’t rely on, promises you’re given. In the world of event planning, stress can feel like a constant companion, like that annoying flu you just can’t get rid of! And let’s face it, sometimes it can push us to our breaking point. But what if we stopped seeing stress as the enemy? The shadow we can’t shake.
Stress is omnipresent, always there, always lurking. Sometimes it appears as a surprise. Often it’s just numb in the background chipping away at your patience, sleep, performance.
The way we respond to stress can make all the difference. Instead of letting stress run you down, what if you flipped the script and used it as a tool for personal development?
It’s not easy, but with the right mindset, stress can become a powerful way for you to drive growth.
Let’s unpack how we can use stress to push forward (not let it push us down).
Step 1: Reframe Your Mindset
The first step is to change the way you think about stress.
Instead of viewing it as a negative force that’s here to knock you down, and then kick you while you’re down, see it as a challenge that’s pushing you to grow. You’ll have to actively remind yourself of this. Take a breath. Take a moment. It’s not easy to break the cycle/pattern of letting stress collapse over you.
You’ll need to take agency. You’ll need to want to step into the role of actively controlling moving parts of your life. Stress is a sign that you’re stepping out of your comfort zone, and that’s where the real learning happens.
Stress can show you what you’re made of. Of course, if you let it control you, it will consume you. But what would happen if you learn to control it?
Step 2: Break Stress Down into Manageable Pieces
Stress often feels overwhelming because it comes at us all at once, like one monster wave. But then another, and another. You’re just spinning round and round in a metaphorical tumble-drier. The trick is to break the stress down into manageable pieces. Otherwise, it’ll just be endless waves crashing over you with no end in sight.
Start by identifying what’s causing your stress. Grab a sheet of paper and just write down everything that comes to mind. Work or not. Are you worried about time management, a difficult client, or the sheer overall delivery expectations? Are you worried about your kids, your partner, or your future? Once you’ve identified the source, you can tackle each issue one by one, instead of letting the whole thing weigh you down. List the things that stress you from 1 being the worst and onward. Then, write down actionable steps for what you can do for your top 3 stressors. Sort those out first. Once they’re done, maybe your other stressors will be too!
Often, we blur together our stresses from inside and outside of work and spill our frustrations into them all.
When you start to break things down, stress becomes less about being overwhelmed and more about problem-solving. Suddenly, it’s not this huge, uncontrollable force, but a series of ‘to-do’s’ that you can face head-on. It becomes more like a goal or task list that you work through pragmatically rather than a storm you got caught in.
Step 3: Learn to Say No (or at Least “Not Now”)
One of the biggest causes of stress is the feeling that you have to do it all – and all at once. Every client request, every team member’s concern, every tiny detail… everything feels urgent. But here’s the truth: you can’t do it all.
Learning to understand what is your scope is essential. Understand what you are meant to do. Understand what falls under someone else or at least the department that would be responsible. Learn to stand your ground and delegate to somewhere or someone else. Learn how to organise your tasks. How to take breaks in between. What environments you need to be most effeicient in.
Give yourself the space to focus on what will make the biggest impact. By setting boundaries, you’re not just managing stress… you’re showing yourself that your time and energy are valuable.
Step 4: Stress as a Learning Tool
After the stressful moments pass, take the time to reflect. What did you learn about yourself? Why did you react the way you did? What are you proud of? What could’ve been better?
Did you discover a new way to handle difficult situations, or perhaps realise a weakness you need to work on?
Each stressful experience gives you insight into what you can handle and where you need to grow.
Learn to reflect regularly. Big moments or small. Stress is omnipresent remember? So, the more consicous you are, the more you’ll be able to learn, grow, adapt, and improve.
Step 5: Develop Coping Mechanisms for Future Stress
Finally, turn stress into a tool for future success by developing healthy coping mechanisms.
Whether it’s taking a five-minute breather, some steps away outside, practising mindfulness, or knowing when to delegate tasks, find what works for you and apply it the next time stress comes knocking.
Stress doesn’t have to be the thing that brings you down. With the right mindset, it can become the thing that lifts you up, pushes you to grow, and helps you discover your true potential.
How have you turned stress into a learning experience? Let us know in the comments.
Let’s turn these ‘challenges’ into learning opportunities and celebrate our successes together! 🌟
Thank you for being part of our TEC Community 🧩
By Laura from TEC