Pause before you push: Recharging for a sustainable year ahead

This month we’re handing the Take 5 mic over to Helen Moon, CEO at EventWell, who’s here to remind us that recovery really is a power move.

December in the events world isn’t quiet time, it’s simply the slow exhale after months of running on adrenaline, deadlines and delivery. Before the industry races into 2026, this is a real moment to pause, breathe, and intentionally rebuild the capacity that got chipped away during those peak periods in 2025.

Resilience isn’t built through resolutions or pressure to start the year strong. It comes from giving your nervous system the space to settle and balance so it’s actually ready for the year ahead.

Here are a few simple, practical ways to recharge this month:

Create a daily decompression moment
Just 10–15 minutes for you, maybe with headphones in, lights softened, phone away, give your brain a little reset moment away from all the prolonged stimulation.

Protect one quiet hour each week
No emails, no meetings, use it for strategic thinking, planning, or simply a bit of breathing space, you’ll be amazed at the clarity it creates.

Build breaks into your January diary now
If rest isn’t scheduled, it won’t happen. Add micro-pauses and recovery moments in advance and make them non negotiable, your future self will thank you.

Do a ‘capacity audit’
What drained you this year? What supported you? Keep and do more of the latter, remove the former… that’s resilience.

Set soft boundaries early
Wrap-up messages, OOO times, realistic availability, start as you mean to go on and believe in the positive no.

As we head towards Event Wellbeing Week in June 2026, this gentle December reset becomes the foundation for a healthier, more sustainable year, for you, your team, and the events you deliver.