Event planner professional development is a focus as we head quickly towards the end of 2023 and look to a busy 2024.

An element that is crucial to the health and wellbeing of event professionals and participants alike is mental fitness. 

AIME Event Director Silke Calder spoke with El Kwang, BEAM Founder, Chief Engager and content curator for the 2024 Knowledge Program, about the importance of cultivating mental fitness and how crucial it is for creating engagement and lasting impact at events.

Mental Fitness: the gym for our brains

Mental fitness is often overlooked in favour of physical fitness or activities at events. But it deserves equal attention, Kwang says. Just as we now ensure participants move their bodies, we must also find ways to exercise and nourish their minds. Simple things like incorporating conscious breathing exercises or gratitude reflections can significantly impact mental states. These small steps contribute to maintaining contentment and enable attendees to thrive during business events.

Mental fitness encompasses the often-overlooked aspect of our well-being, focusing on the equivalent of going to the gym for our brains. In a world where we prioritise physical health through dieting and exercise, mental fitness prompts us to ask ourselves: What are we doing to nurture our mental wellbeing?

Happiness v contentment

While happiness is desirable, it may not always be attainable. Instead, Kwang says contentment plays a vital role in wellbeing. 

“Contentment allows individuals to appreciate what they have, reducing the constant yearning for more. It strengthens resilience, enabling individuals to withstand adversity and empathise with others. By finding contentment, one can offer support and demonstrate concern for others’ wellbeing,” he says. 

Aiming to lay this bedrock of contentment for your participants will create a positive and inclusive environment at business events.

The approach doesn’t have to be complex or intimidating. Instead of opting for traditional methods like seeing a life coach, incorporate simple practices into daily life. 

“This could be as straightforward as placing positive Post-it notes on mirrors or doors with affirmations like ‘I’m enough’. These serve as daily reminders to reinforce a positive mindset and self-worth,” he says.

Mindful breathing

Basic practices such as mindful breathing are important. Research indicates that individuals in fast-paced urban environments often neglect proper breathing, and this oversight can impact mental wellbeing. Instead of resorting to external solutions, such as buying humidifiers, focus on fundamental practices, like breathing through the nose, which naturally humidifies the air. 

“This highlights the idea that mental fitness is about embracing small, manageable actions that contribute to our emotional equilibrium,” Kwang says. 

Small steps = personal success

Ultimately, mental fitness is about cultivating self-encouragement and taking small steps towards personal success, without succumbing to the constant pressure of external competition. It encourages us to look within ourselves for the solutions and practices that best promote our mental well-being.

Event programming 

According to Kwang, in order to help facilitate “mental fitness” and enhance event professionals’ mental health, event/ conference organisers should streamline programming, offering attendees the option to engage in fewer catering breaks and more networking time. 

“This approach allows attendees to feel in control of their time and avoids overloading them with sessions and excessive catering,” he says. 

Secondly, it is crucial for the program quality to be exceptional. Speakers should not assume that attendees have thoroughly read their content synopses. Instead, speakers should focus on clear positioning, ensuring attendees can easily discern the value they will gain from each session. This approach provides attendees with the choice to stay engaged with the session or take a brief break, promoting a more mindful and comfortable event experience.

AIME 2024 Knowledge Program 

For event planner professional development, there’s no better place than the Knowledge Program at AIME.  In 2024, under the theme The 4Ps of Glocalisation, two dynamic keynote speakers will explore the intricate dynamics of glocalisation’s transformative impact: the award-winning marketing executive Lisa Ronson and Sebastian Terry, renowned for his impactful work with 100 Things.

As part of the Knowledge Program there will be concurrent breakout sessions focusing on the 4P’s: People, Planet, Purpose, and Profit. Kwang says a new highlight for 2024 is ‘The Pitch’, where the leading speakers from each session will have 60 seconds to pitch their topics to the plenary participants. 

It’s going to be fascinating to see how participants prioritise their preferences in this dynamic format.

The AIME 2024 Knowledge Program is attended by Hosted Buyers, Media, Exhibitors and Visitor Buyers who upgrade their ticket.