Eight Ways Planners Can Rest and Rejuvenate

Few people escape on-the-job stress, but LA County Planner Clement Lau has some tips for his cohorts designed to help them recover from the pressures of work.

1 minute read

October 20, 2014, 7:00 AM PDT

By melaniecj


Relaxation

Ditty_about_summer / Shutterstock

Even though Business Insider lists urban and regional planner as one of the top “15 High-Paying Jobs for People Who Don’t Like Stress,” those in the profession know how taxing it can be.

The idea in managing stress is to make sure planners make their rejuvenation a priority, according to Clement Lau, a planner for Los Angeles  County.

“Let’s face it: it is not easy nor fun dealing with residents who are angry with you over a plan or project that you are working on, responding to letters of opposition to a plan or project that are based on preconceived ideas or rumors, compiling documents and correspondence to comply with Public Records Act requests for information, and/or handling threats of litigation from developers, community residents, and/or environmental groups.”

Taking walks, traveling, or visiting a museum are among the ways Lau writes the recharges. Planners can also attend professional conferences or teach a class for a change of pace from the daily grind, he adds.

“I want to encourage my fellow planners to not become weary in doing good; even though we may not see immediate results, the thoughtful planning that we do with our constituents will ultimately help to transform and improve the quality of life in our communities.”

Clement goes on to list eight specific suggestions, not all of them immediately restful.

Friday, October 17, 2014 in UrbDeZine

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Aerial view of town of Wailuku in Maui, Hawaii with mountains in background against cloudy sunset sky.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly

Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

July 1, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 9, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Green vintage Chicago streetcar from the 1940s parked at the Illinois Railroad Museum in 1988.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails

Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

July 13, 2025 - WTTV

Bend, Oregon

Bend, Oregon Zoning Reforms Prioritize Small-Scale Housing

The city altered its zoning code to allow multi-family housing and eliminated parking mandates citywide.

5 hours ago - Strong Towns

Blue and silver Amtrak train with vibrant green and yellow foliage in background.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail

The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

6 hours ago - Smart Cities Dive

Green Skid Row mural satirizing city limit sign in downtown Los Angeles, California.

LA Denies Basic Services to Unhoused Residents

The city has repeatedly failed to respond to requests for trash pickup at encampment sites, and eliminated a program that provided mobile showers and toilets.

7 hours ago - Los Angeles Public Press