When you hear the term “wellness,” what comes to mind first? Incentives? A group spa treatment as a meeting break?
What about your own mental health?
In 2023, it became clearer than ever that although wellness fits into meetings in many ways and makes for an outstanding attendee experience, it’s just as important for meeting profs to prioritize their own wellness. Wellness is not only about a one-time activity you include at a meeting; it’s a whole lifestyle and work-style. The best wellness articles of this year showed that wellness can show up as a wide variety of meeting programming, as well as ways to rethink how meetings can be done and, importantly, the ways you take care of yourself inside and outside of work for long-term well-being.
Work Smart: Mental Health Checklist
How do you build strong mental health—really? This edition of Work Smart appeared in the January 2023 issue. Guest author Rob Adams, president and owner of event management partner Bishop-McCann provides a comprehensive checklist of all the things we should be doing to improve and maintain our mental health. This means everything from the basics, like making sure you’re getting enough sleep, to actions that take a little bit more effort, but have a big impact, like scheduling time to reflect and practice gratitude every day.
To Your Health—On Every Level
When it comes to incorporating wellness into meetings and events, there’s a long list of activities planners can look to, from group fitness classes to guided meditations. On the business side of things, a wellness activity is certain to impress attendees and incentivize loyalty to your company. But wellness goes even further: it’s about making sure people feel comfortable, heard and safe. This article, from the January/February 2023 issue, examines all sides of wellness, its benefits, and offers a great list of options for wellness activities for meetings.
Cannabis Tourism: Now Mainstream for Meetings
Cannabis tourism, or alternative hospitality/tourism, has taken off as a new meetings trend and offers a whole new world for events. Whether its through cannabis lounges at hotels, cannabis-infused food and beverage or farm tours for an incentive activity, more meeting attendees are interested in cannabis tourism options as mainstream interest in cannabis grows. This article, featured in the May 2023 issue, hears from cannabis culture experts from many different areas of the meetings industry to discuss education, advocacy and how cannabis tourism fits into meetings.
Social Neurochemistry: Events That Engage and What One Thing? Finding Joy at Events With Jacques Martiquet, The Party Scientist
Jacques Martiquet is The Party Scientist, an experience designer and group facilitator who has developed his passions for neuroscience and social connectivity into a practice centered around sparking human connection and joy. He spoke to Smart Meetings in both a What One Thing? podcast episode and an exclusive interview about his concept of social neurochemistry—implanting activities into meetings that release dopamine and serotonin in participants’ brains, and therefore help people to feel more engaged and connected.
Hey, Busy Meeting Planner, You Feeling Stressed?
It’s no secret that meeting planners have a demanding job. Event Psychology Advisor Victoria Matey spoke to Smart Meetings about the effects of stress and burnout, and how we can counteract and avoid it. Even when you’re a hard worker, when you love your job, you can still suffer from burnout, and a host of negative health effects that accompany it. However, there’s no shortage of strategies to manage stress and make your life and job easier and more enjoyable. All it takes a little bit of planning ahead (isn’t that what you do best?) and you’ll be better at your job as a result.
