Whether it’s a simple Christmas get-together between family and friends or a large event you have been trusted with at work, party planning can be stressful. Of course, you know it will be worth it in the end, but everything leading up to the big day can be overwhelming and damaging to your mental well-being. If this sounds familiar, you should know how to cut down (and hopefully eliminate) the stress of party planning.
1. Make a Checklist
Checklists are the be-all and end-all of all stress-relieving techniques.
So simple, yet so effective, they help you get everything in order before you even get started. Your checklist should cover everything you need as well as any additional needs you might have (but aren’t 100% sure on yet).
The checklist helps you stay up to date on everything you do and gives you that sweet serotonin boost when you finally get to cross something off because it feels like you’re making progress.
2. Get Supplies As Early As Possible
All parties need supplies, and depending on where the party takes place, you may need to get these as early as possible.
If you’re hosting an event at a bar or restaurant, you won’t need to worry about food and drink.
However, parties at home are different. In addition to getting enough refreshments (or asking guests to bring their own), you also need to consider the decor. Finding deals on everything from Kings coronation supplies to classic party hats and games is easy enough as long as you know where to look.
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3. Delegate, Delegate, Delegate!
The art of delegation is something everyone knows about, but few have mastered it in a way that makes it effective.
A lot of people live by the motto “If you want it done right then do it yourself” but that sentiment is not going to help you when you need a party planning committee.
It might be hard to hand over tasks to someone else because you might end up re-doing them later, but with proper communication and delegating the right tasks, this doesn’t need to be a problem.
Knowing what and what not to delegate is important, because you don’t want to ask someone to do something too complicated. Make sure that the things you delegate are easy to explain and don’t make too much of a difference if they aren’t done perfectly, like blowing up balloons or carrying chairs from one room to another.
4. Be Comfortable Saying No
It’s easy to promise a lot when you’re planning a party, especially since everyone has different demands, needs, and requirements. You want to please everybody, so you’re happy to try to accommodate as much as possible.
However, this can cost you a lot of time and money and even damage your mental health.
Because of this, learning how to say no and setting clear boundaries about what the party will be can prevent any disappointment from guests and also means you don’t feel like you’re drowning in unnecessary additions that people won’t care about, anyway.
5. Keep Your Priorities Straight
I heard a house-cleaning trick that really resonated with me a long time ago. They said that, when cleaning before a party, prioritize cleaning the bathroom over cleaning your kitchen.
The reason for this was that your guests were going to expect a messy kitchen because you had obviously been cooking in it to prepare for the party.
In the bathroom, however, they would be more likely to expect a clean space AND they would have more time to sit alone and notice the details of the room there. Silly, but true.
This is one small example of how knowing what your priorities are can really reduce your party-planning stress. Instead of worrying about cleaning your entire house, you can know to prioritize high-traffic areas and let the rest go.
Party: Planned
Party planning can take a lot out of you. It can feel like there is always something that might go wrong, and you can’t relax until the last person leaves once the party is over. This is not the spirit of a joyous event, though, so don’t forget these tips the next time you have to plan a party for friends, family, colleagues, or even strangers.
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