Fact: Event planning is ranked as one of the most stressful jobs in the world—right up there with military personnel, firefighters, and airline pilots. (PCMA)
Reality: 79% of event professionals say their jobs are more stressful now than before the pandemic. (The Incentivist)
Truth: Despite these numbers, planners who speak up about burnout are met with silence—or worse, shut down by their own peers.
The Industry’s Biggest Lie: “That’s Just How It Is”
Let’s get real. The event industry doesn’t just ignore burnout—it expects it.
Long hours? That’s the job.
Unrealistic client demands? Suck it up.
Work-life balance? Not in this industry.
And the worst part? Even other planners are telling us to “just deal with it.”
When planners open up about burnout, they’re told:
• “You knew what you signed up for.”
• “It’s part of the industry—if you don’t like it, leave.”
• “We’ve all been through it, just push through.”
This isn’t normal. This isn’t okay. This is why burnout keeps destroying event professionals.
When Planners Speak Up… They Get Shut Down
We’ve seen it firsthand. A planner shares their exhaustion, their struggle, their need for support—And their voices are muted. Their posts are removed. Their concerns are dismissed.
Not by clients……..Not by executives……..By other planners.
Why? Because no one wants to admit the industry is broken.
Let’s be brutally honest: If we can’t even have this conversation among ourselves, how do we expect the industry to change?
Burnout isn’t a personal problem. It’s an industry-wide crisis.
And we can’t fix what we refuse to acknowledge.
The Facts They Don’t Want You to Know
79% of event professionals say their jobs are more stressful than ever. (The Incentivist)
76% of employees experience burnout, with 28% nearing a breaking point. (Gallup)
A third of planners feel anxious and exhausted—yet the industry response? Silence. (PCMA)
If we don’t talk about this, nothing changes.
What Needs to Happen NOW
We’re not waiting for the industry to catch up. We’re not sitting back while planners burn out, quit, or lose their passion. We’re calling this out and taking action.
Here’s what YOU can do this month:
1. Stop Apologizing for Setting Boundaries: Every time you say “I can’t take that on right now”, you’re reinforcing that your well-being matters.
Action Step: Try this line: “I’d love to help, but I’m at capacity this week. I can look into this next week—let me know if that works.” Why? Studies show that professionals who assert clear boundaries experience lower stress levels and increased job satisfaction. (Harvard Business Review)
2. Call Out the “Urgency” Myth: 80% of what’s labeled “urgent” isn’t.
Action Step: Next time someone throws “urgent” at you, ask: “What’s the actual deadline, and what happens if this waits until tomorrow?” Why? Workplace urgency triggers stress hormones—which leads to faster burnout, not better work. (Stanford University)
3. Speak Up—Even If They Don’t Want You To: Planners deserve more than survival mode.
Action Step: Next time someone dismisses burnout, ask them: “Why is burnout so normalized in our industry when other industries have protections against overwork?” Why? Changing the culture starts with calling out harmful industry norms. Silence only keeps the system running. (Gallup)
Join the Movement
We must create a culture where event professionals can thrive without compromising their well-being.
Action Step: Engage with communities and platforms that prioritize mental health and advocate for systemic change. Why? Collective action amplifies our voices and drives industry-wide transformation.
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