Every part of event planning is stressful, from working with a budget to working with a board. Things go wrong. Sometimes NOTHING goes right! Or at least it sure seems that way. Panicking seems to just make things worse.

Here are 9 tips to stay calm the week of your fundraising event:

1) Take deep breaths.
Studies show that deep breathing actually reduces your heart rate allowing you to gain control over your anxiety and increase and improve performance levels 

2) Eyes on the Prize.
Remember why you’re doing what you’re doing. Think about the cause you are fundraising for and make a list of all of the reasons why it is so important to you. Don’t lose sight of what is really important. You took on this role for a reason and it’s important to remind yourself of that especially when you’re in a stressful situation.

3) Be active!
With all the event fundraising deadlines suddenly here you may not have time to dedicate hours a day to the gym, but there are practical exercise habits you can practice daily that may help relieve your stress!
Go for a walk
Try office yoga
Stretch periodically
Take the stairs
Stay Healthy:
It probably doesn't come as a surprise that sitting at a desk all day isn’t good for your health. Staying active is a great way to reduce stress, but make sure you’re also considering your health in other aspects of your daily life. Although that Snickers from the vending machine is easy to grab-n-go and gives you a great sugar high, it also provides a depressing sugar crash. Instead, keep a few healthy, nutrient-rich snack options at your desk such as a banana, instant oatmeal or mixed nuts!

4) Reach out.
Social engagement is linked to stress reduction. Pick up your phone and make a call or shoot a text to one or a few of the people closest to you that always seem to put a smile on your face.

5) Decorate for success to de-stress.
Bring your favorite things into the office! You probably can’t bring your spouse, beloved pup, or favorite hiking trail into work, but you can bring in pictures of your loved ones and memorable places! Also try bringing a small, low maintenance plant into your office space as a new addition; a small lavender plant serves not only as your connection to nature, but also produces a calming fragrance!

6) L O L
Learn to laugh it off. Research conducted within the Department of Psychology at the University of West Ontario showed that people who laugh more don’t feel as stressed out in stressful situations! Find the humor within the stress. Keep a running folder on your desktop of funny pictures or memes to flip through when you need a laugh. 

7) Leave no stone unturned.
Make a to-do list and clean up your work space before leaving the office as a way to tie up lose ends and leave business at work. This way you are able to relax at home knowing you left nothing undone. When you arrive to the office the following morning you begin with a nicely prepared clean slate!

8) Listen to Music!
Listening to music can be a great way to reduce stress during every day life and super stressful situations. In a study conducted within the Department of Psychology at the University of Marburg it was concluded that listening to music, especially as a way to relax, decreased levels of perceived stress and cortisol levels (aka the stress hormone) 

9) Be Positive.
Use stress-free language, be positive in your words! Being a negative-Nancy because you are stressed out will actually increase your stress, and that is just counter productive! Plus, a positive leader makes for positive followers. If you keep a positive attitude it will rub off on those around you. Think about keeping a journal to jot down one good thing that came from the day, or something you did exceptionally well!