2021 has been another one of those kinds of years, to say the least. Just when it felt like normalcy was in reach, COVID-19 cases around the country rose again during the Delta wave. It’s no secret that the pandemic has taken a toll on people’s mental health. The Kaiser Family Foundation reports 4 in 10 adults have reported symptoms of anxiety or depression during the pandemic, up from 1 in 10 adults in 2019.
And event pros are not immune.
“The events world is full of pressures and stressors that can impact our mental and emotional well-being,” says Helen Moon, the chief executive at EventWell, a U.K.-based nonprofit that provides mental health resources for the event industry. “Focusing on this through self-care and self-awareness is essential to build and protect not just our resilience and ability to bounce back from whatever life may throw at us, but also our productivity and creativity. Look after your brain. It's the biggest investment you'll make as an event professional.”
But how? Those answers will vary. But the industry has come together lately to provide a place for discussion, awareness, coping and healing. Organizations like EventWell, for example, have continued to provide mental health resources to the event industry, including activities and podcasts focused on sleep. Additionally, in October, virtual and hybrid event platform Hopin produced the first-ever EventMinded, an event produced to bring event pros together to discuss mental health.
Even after COVID-19 eventually fades, focusing on mental health in the event industry will remain an important conversation that shouldn’t be outgrown. Event professionals are busy, and self-care may seem selfish—but it’s not. “We can’t successfully create amazing, positive experiences for others if we are not also taking care of our physical and mental well-being,” says Lauren Sommers, vice president of corporate marketing at Hopin, who utilizes her position to talk about mental health with the event community.
As we turn the page to 2022, one way event pros can work self-care into their daily or weekly routines is through popular mental health apps. Consider these five to start the year off on the right foot—some of which came highly recommended from other event industry professionals.
Calm
App Overview: Calm’s resume includes winning Apple’s 2017 App of the Year award. The app allows users to literally hold mindfulness tools in the palms of their hands. And since mental health isn’t one-size-fits-all, Calm has a seemingly endless number of options to help users stay grounded. Guided meditations run from three to 25 minutes, so it’s simpler to squeeze in a session between a working lunch and an hourlong Zoom call. After a long day, drift off to sleep while Stephen Fry, Matthew McConaughey or Leona Lewis tell you a bedtime story. There are also seven-day and 21-day programs that help you incorporate mindfulness into your daily life.
Cost: $14.99/month or $69.99/year. Available for download in the App Store and on Google Play.
What Event Pros Are Saying About It: Michelle Metter, an event producer for The San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival, which draws 11,000 attendees, uses Calm. "During event season, it is impossible for me to turn off my mental to-do list,” she says. “I’m always running through what hasn’t gotten done or what needs to get done. The app Calm really helps me take my mind off of work so that I can recharge for the next day.”
Headspace
App Overview: Headspace is an app that caters to people just starting with meditation or who have been doing it for years. Users will find a range of guided meditations that emphasize various topics, including anxiety, focus and relaxation. And Headspace is something even the busiest event pro can probably find time to use. The app has three-minute sessions that are quick but effective and perfect for resetting after a long meeting.
Cost: $12.99/month or $69.99/year. Available for download in the App Store and on Google Play.
What Event Pros Are Saying About It: Moon notes Headspace is one of two apps EventWell frequently recommends to professionals and uses in the company’s office quiet rooms (Calm is the other). “It’s great for guided meditations, breathwork and [sleepcasts], and [it] offers something for everyone as part of a holistic approach to mental well-being,” she says.
MoodKit
App Overview: Dr. Edrick Dorian and Dr. Drew Erhardt, a pair of clinical psychologists, developed MoodKit. The two used the principles and techniques of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) to shape the app’s features (CBT is a form of talk therapy aimed at helping people manage, cope with and change negative thought patterns). Users can find tips for dealing with negative thoughts, journal templates and a mood rater. Individuals who use the app regularly may see patterns in their moods and identify triggers (such as not going to bed by a certain time increases stress the following day).
Cost: A one-time fee of $4.99. Available for download in the App Store.
Peloton Meditation
App Overview: Peloton is known for its luxury bikes, treadmills and instructors with a whole lot of personality. But the fitness brand also has a more mellow side. In addition to yoga, it offers meditation classes, which event pros can download using the app. The types of classes run the gamut. Soothing sleep meditations can help you catch some much-needed z’s after a long day of hammering out last-minute logistics for an event. On the other hand, morning meditation prepares you for the day ahead, and energizing meditation is like a natural espresso.
Cost: $39/month gets users access to all Peloton content, including yoga, cycling and outdoor running/walking classes. Available for download in the App Store and via Google Play.
What Event Pros Are Saying About It: Kristin Martinez, an event manager with San Diego-based Fast Forward Events, says she logs into Peloton for sleep support. “I use it when going through stressful times in the event management process with long days during event setup and the actual events,” she says. “Meditation helps me calm my racing thoughts on what needs to get done the following day, and helps generate peace throughout the night, so I’m well-rested for the long day ahead.”
Happify
App Overview: This mood-boosting app seeks to help people with negative thoughts, stress and self-confidence issues. In turn, it may be a useful tool in assisting event pros both personally and professionally (overcoming imposter syndrome may help you nail a presentation, for example). The app uses games, activities and meditations to help users achieve their goals.
Cost: $14.99/month, $139.99/year or a one-time fee of $449.99
Editor’s Note: While mental health apps, which focus on everything from meditation to natural sleep assistance, can be a useful tool in your toolbox, these apps are just one potential piece of your holistic approach to wellness. Working with a licensed therapist can help you manage and cope if you’re struggling with your mental health.
