Virtual Conference Success: How to Prepare Your Mind, Your Space, and Your People for Focus, Part 2

Virtual Conference Success: Prepare to Focus (Part 2)

Continued from Part 1–click here if you missed it.

Remember,

♦ The key to FOCUS during your conference is preparation.

• Prepare Your Mind for Focus

• • Plan Ahead. 

• • • You already know your most effective personal  learning strategies. Avoid self-sabotage. Pre-conference, stop to consider what you need. 

• • • Make a commitment to focus and ignore distractions. Brainstorm ways to prevent or minimize them (if you haven’t already, see How to Get the Most Out of Your Virtual Conference).

• • • SLEEEEEEEP. (But not during conference sessions.) Try to keep a steady bedtime schedule for a week prior to the conference; sleep deprivation creates the same issues as excessive-alcohol impairment.

• • • If you’re useless until caffeine kicks in, get up early and start the IV drip. I mean, the coffeepot. 

• • • Special note for those of us who have a legit attention issue:
      • If you have a prescription for ADHD medication, take it.
      • Planning to wean off one day this week because you’ve developed mad coping skillz? Great. Now is not the time.

• • Expect challenges. 

• • • A virtual conference may require our brains to perform unfamiliar tasks.

• • • “I followed the directions. Whyyyyyyy won’t it let me in?” Breathe. 

• • • Kids and pets are prime sources of just-before-the-conference nosebleeds, spontaneous ectoplasmic projectile vomiting, and other emergencies (See: Prepare Your People, below).

• • • If you’re interrupted, remember:
      • Most speakers summarize at the end.
      • If the conference has a chat option, you can ask for the information you missed. In my experience so far, other attendees are always willing to help. You might even meet a new friend this way. 
      • Conference sessions are often recorded.

• • Above all, don’t freak out.

• • • Whatever interruption occurs is not the end of the world.

• • • Unless it is the end of the world; in that case, the conference no longer matters.

• Prepare Your Environment for Focus

• • Minimize distractions.  

• • • If possible, claim a room with a door (yes, a closet counts).

• • • Close the blinds if you’re distracted by–hey, look, a hummingbird! 

• • • Noise-canceling headphones: get them. 

• • Eat! Hydrate!

• • • Conferences tend to be fast-paced. You might not have time to hit the fridge.

• • • Create a box of snacks to keep at hand (include a few healthy options, like apples). 

• • • Fill a small cooler with your favorite water/soda/etc.

• • Create a comfortable setting. 

• • • Seating
      • Should be comfy and promote good posture to eliminate muscle fatigue.
      • If your only option is sitting on the bed, find a way to support your back. 

• • • Lighting
      • If you’ll be visible online, sit with lighting in front of you.
      • Bring in an extra lamp if necessary.
      • Even if your video is off, your only source of light should not be your laptop (to prevent eyestrain). 

• • • Temperature
      • Adjust the thermostat if you’re able. Uncomfortable temps are distracting. 
      • Find other options if you can’t adjust the thermostat.
        • Too hot? Fan. (Or ice packs, even.) 
        • Too cold? Blanket. 
        • If the weather’s nice, sit outside. 

• •  

• Prepare Your People for Focus

• • At least a week ahead of time, inform everyone who might need you during the conference. 

• • • People living in your house or dependent on you.

• • • Friends likely to freak out if you don’t return a text.

• • • Employer/colleagues.
      • If possible, take time off work, preferably for the entire conference. You’ll want time to prepare before–and to process after–the conference. 
      • Unless you’re a first responder (or similar),  communicate you’ll be 100% unavailable.

• • Arrange care for dependents. 

• • • Childcare for small children, or a backup contact for older children. 

• • • Emergency contact or care for adults depending on you. 

• • • Someone to snuggle the dog–to prevent barking outside (or attempts to dig through) your door.

• • Communicate verbally to everyone in your household. Explain the following:

• • • Why this conference is important to you.

• • • You’re paying for every minute of the conference. Interruptions cost money.

• • • Expectations of being undisturbed unless there’s fire, flood or blood, etc. 

• • Create a physical reminder/signal at the entrance of your conference space.  

• • • Tell sentient adult housemates, “If the door is closed, I’m in session.” 

• • • Place a lamp outside the door and tell your kids, “Pretend our house is a movie studio. If the light’s on, I’m filming. Don’t knock. Don’t open the door.”

• • • Create a sign for your door.
      • Humor works best. For instance:
        • “If you’re loud while I’m on Zoom, you’ll be grounded to your room” 
        • “You want to sleep inside tonight? Don’t knock.”

These ideas are only the tips of the iceberg (ha). If you’ve learned something from your own virtual conference experience, please share in the comments.

Coming soon: Connection and conversation are key to making friends, another great way to Get the Most Out of Your Virtual Conference.

In the meantime, you’re not alone if our new normal’s left you listless and CovidBrain’s sapping your sass. To help, I’ve gathered a few more great conference-door-sign ideas. You’re welcome.

*No explanation needed.

*Look out for sharp zig-zags?

*Beware origami monsters.