At any conference, I find that brain overload is a consistent challenge: so much good information, good music, good human connection gets combine with so much bad hotel sleep, bad restaurant food, bad (too busy) self care.
(The ACDA National Conference, happening now in Kansas City, is among the most challenging – it lasts from Tuesday night to Saturday night and has sessions and concerts running from 8am to 10:30 at night.)
So how to you stave off the brain overload and continue to enjoy the conference?
- Hydration. More water.
- NSAIDs. A little ibuprofen isn’t a bad idea before you even start to get that conference headache.
- Quiet. Part of the problem is everywhere you go has so much background noise. Consider a pair of noise-canceling headphones, a half-hour back in a quiet hotel room, or just a walk outside.
- Prioritizing. You can allow yourself to miss something that will be very good so you’re refreshed and ready to take in something remarkable later.
- Borrow Energy. When all else fails, you can borrow energy from the future. You’ll pay for it eventually, but maybe you’ll get more out of the conference.