How to Manage Your Energy at Conventions
Aug. 16th, 2018 05:36 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ysabetwordsmithSomeone asked me about managing energy at conventions and avoiding social burnout. Here are some of my tactics:
* Follow normal circadian rhythm as much as possible. For me, it means I won't do morning panels but am happy to do late-night ones.
* Schedule time for meals. Carry snacks and beverages.
* Choose short activities or free-range ones. Most events will be ~45 minutes but some are shorter or longer. Many cons have a dress-up room, con suite, filk room, or other activities that people can walk in and out of as desired.
* Do not schedule more than two activities in a row. Preferably, alternate an activity and then a break.
* Avoid big crushing crowds. Visit the dealer's room during less-crowded hours. Watch the costume contest on hotel TV and/or enjoy hall costumes.
* Check if they have a quiet room, reading room, or other relaxing place. If the hotel doesn't, look for a nearby library, house of worship, or park as these tend to be relaxed environments.
* Get plenty of sleep. Never book a room on the party floor.
* Follow normal circadian rhythm as much as possible. For me, it means I won't do morning panels but am happy to do late-night ones.
* Schedule time for meals. Carry snacks and beverages.
* Choose short activities or free-range ones. Most events will be ~45 minutes but some are shorter or longer. Many cons have a dress-up room, con suite, filk room, or other activities that people can walk in and out of as desired.
* Do not schedule more than two activities in a row. Preferably, alternate an activity and then a break.
* Avoid big crushing crowds. Visit the dealer's room during less-crowded hours. Watch the costume contest on hotel TV and/or enjoy hall costumes.
* Check if they have a quiet room, reading room, or other relaxing place. If the hotel doesn't, look for a nearby library, house of worship, or park as these tend to be relaxed environments.
* Get plenty of sleep. Never book a room on the party floor.
(no subject)
Date: 2018-08-17 03:41 pm (UTC)Myself, I need a lot more sleep than that, and I want three solid meals a day, and it's amazing how many people ignore personal hygiene, to the cost of their fellow participants.
MANY years ago a friend of mine who was on committee for a Phoenix convention asked me to be a handler/aide for Mike Jittlov, the creator/animator for the movie The Wizard of Speed and Time: pick him up at the airport, do errands for him, etc. No problem. She gave me a VIP badge for the con in exchange. Morning of the first day of the convention (FIRST DAY) I'd picked up Mike and we were wandering the dealer room, he asked me to watch his stuff so he could wander unencumbered, so I did, no problem. This guy walked up and asked me how I'd gotten my badge, and I explained. I came very close to saying that I got it in exchange for showering every day. First morning of the con and the guy already had a major BO zone.
(no subject)
Date: 2018-08-17 05:08 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2018-08-23 05:01 pm (UTC)