When you’ve got a chronic illness, which is very possible given that 40% of Americans suffer from this type of health issue, going to a conference can seem like an insurmountable task. As a 15-year chronic pain patient, I understand! I began freelance writing to supplement my income when a full-time job was simply impossible, but as a Type-A personality, it’s just not in me to sit on the sidelines when there’s a chance to grow my business. Part of the process was learning how to attend conferences without making myself sick in the process. Here are some of the tips and tricks I’ve learned along the way to help you get the most out of your conference experience, whether you’re just a little worn out or dealing with serious health issues.
How to Conference Without Going Crazy
Determine Your Goals
Why are you really attending the conference? Are you learning a lot during the sessions? Connecting with companies that offer marketing solutions? Networking with professionals? Start by upping your education by taking a look at what’s happened in past years. Take some time to figure out what your goals are for this conference, then determine how you’ll approach each goal.
Plan Ahead
You’ll want to take some time to look through the schedule in the days, weeks and months leading up to the conference. Are there specific speakers that you don’t want to miss? Networking events that will boost your business? Workshops that will take you to the next level? Figure out what’s most important to you and prioritize what options you’re going to pursue.
Pace Yourself
It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of the conference, but you’ll need to get through the entire conference instead of getting knocked down because you did too much at the start. If you need to skip some events, check whether they’re being recorded for later. If there are some can’t-be-missed events, schedule some downtime beforehand so that you’re at your best.
Make Accommodations for Your Health Issues
You know better than anybody else the strain that travel, being on your feet or participating in crowded activities will have on your health. Does dehydration from air travel affect you? Stay hydrated with water and fruit juices. If you need to have downtime, make that a part of your schedule. Find places to sit, such as coffee to network one-on-one with specific individuals you’ve wanted to meet.
Take Time to Breathe
It’s very easy to get caught up and simply go from item to item on your schedule all day, but some of those events don’t really mean as much to you or won’t help you out in the end. Get some quiet time in, whether it’s in a quiet corner at the conference or a few minutes in your hotel room.
Schedule Downtime After
No matter how carefully you plan, conferences can be exhausting, so it’s very important to plan some crash time after the conference when you can recover. I know I’m going to be down for half a week before I’m worth anything again, and if I have to get straight back to work right after a conference, it’s closer to two weeks. Plan your downtime so you can get back up and put what you learned into action.
Whether you have serious health concerns or are just worried that you’ll come home from Content Marketing Conference 2020 too tired to get the job done, putting these tips into place before, during and after the conference will put you in a position to maximize your benefits from the conference. Have you registered for #CMC2020 yet? If you haven’t, it’s time to start that early planning that was mentioned by making your plans ahead.
Cathleen V. is a multi-talented writer with extensive knowledge in a wide variety of areas. As a top 1% content writer out of over 22,000 on another site she writes on and with excellent feedback on Writer Access, she has a finger on the pulse of what’s trending on SEO and the internet today; as a reliable, intelligent, creative writer, she can fulfill your needs now and in the future! With an MS in Plant Science focusing on sustainable agriculture and four years greenhouse management experience, she has the knowledge of not only what gardening techniques are the easiest, but the best for the planet as well. As a small business owner in the arts industry for over twenty years, she can write articles covering the latest in display, social media marketing, trends and art show management.