1) Schedule no clients or out-of-office work the day before you leave.

No matter how well organized one might be, fate likes to set a silly stage the days before any trip, but especially a work-related trip. For example, I find that in the 48 hours before I leave for an annual conference, I get an absolute flood of hot prospects beating down my door, all of whom I'd like to give adequate attention. You never want to struggle with a choice between picking up your dry cleaning, getting that last minute haircut and refilling prescriptions OR conferring with strong prospective clients.

Use the days leading up to your travel day to prepare a task list, launder clothes, make necessary purchases, lay out everything you plan to pack (preferably in a spare room, where you can create a launch pad), schedule post-conference appointments, etc., but also schedule the day prior to your trip for some introspection. If no wackiness seeps in, you'll have "found" time; if things happen as they usually do, but you've prepared, you won't be battling yourself. You'll be better rested the night before you travel, and you will be less stressed on your travel day.

2) Schedule no clients or out-of-office meetings for the day after your return.

Airline travel has become very (((shudder))) disorganized. The airlines may contact you within days of your trip to alert you that your flight times, and in busy cities, even your departure airport, have changed. For a cross-country flight, or during times of bad weather, you could be delayed by up to 36 hours.

Scheduling the day after your trip as a buffer day will give you a greater sense of confidence about your transition from conference mode to real-life mode. Think of it like scuba-diving; take your time returning to the surface so you don't get "the bends".

3) Schedule your time at conference to keep yourself centered. Before leaving on your trip, you should already have a conference itinerary showing what fixed events exist and what flexible times are available, including early mornings, late nights, and possibly short blocks mid-day.

If your day normally includes time for a workout or nap, prayer, meditation, or a chat on the phone with your best friend, be sure to actually block time in your schedule to do that while you're away, too. You might have to ask for an earlier wake-up call or excuse yourself from some social festivities in the evening, but taking time to ground yourself in the normal, whatever that means for you, will make it more likely that you will function optimally.

Sticking to your most comforting rituals, even if you don't usually think of your usual habits that way, will help you feel centered and make the conference hubbub less alienating. Conventions and conferences are like birthday cake. In moderation, it's all fun, but even too much fun can be overwhelming and detrimental to mental and physical health.

4) Schedule daily review time.

One item I probably left off the packing list was a composition or moleskin notebook or legal pad to use specifically as your conference ACTION NOTEBOOK. Used correctly, this can be your little treasure for the coming year!

You are going to be inundated with amazing information over the course of your conference or convention. You'll learn new methods of doing things in your own profession as well marketing, administrative and leadership skills for keeping your business afloat. You'll get to explore new products or services, find intriguing affiliate programs and prospective strategic partnerships and you'll meet motivating, intelligent people. Each magic moment is fleeting; capture it or risk losing it forever!

No matter how much you write notes or highlight your handouts or doodle little stars in the margins, or say "I've gotta try this idea!", real life comes back quickly when a conference is over. Combat this ebbing away of brilliance (and motivation) by keeping an ACTION NOTEBOOK. Think of it as a diary or journal, a place to keep track of all the great ideas you really want to put into action upon your return.

Each evening you are away, take 15 minutes to page through your notes and handouts and copy over your great ideas, tips and motivations—write down WHAT you want to do, WHY you want to do it (i.e., for what benefit—Increased revenue? Streamlined expenses? Reduced stress?) and WHEN you're going to start. Too often, we write down deadlines; instead, write down "birth dates" for when will you will begin, or give birth, to these new behaviors or attitudes.

If possible, discuss the things you want try with a colleague or two (or one for each major great activity) and commit to being accountability buddies to support one another after conference via email, instant messaging or phone calls. Write those buddies' names in your conference action notebook, too.

Finally, if there's something you wish you'd done differently, anything from how you booked your flight to how you picked your educational seminars, write that on a page of your notebook, too. Be sure to review that page and make notes in your calendar, tickler file or scheduling software for 11 months hence to help you plan for next year!

5) Schedule a conference recap day (or half-day) about a week to ten days after your return to help you with STRATEGIC PLANNING.

No matter how fabulous your conference experience is, real life is like a cold shower. It's easy to get caught up in the family/clients/groceries/life-demands issues and lose sight of the inspiration that your conference brought to your mind and spirit.

Book a partial day in the week or two following conference to sit in a quiet place (or a humming Starbucks, if that's your preference) to reread your conference action notebook. Bring your calendar and start mapping out how to make the great dreams and inspired ideas of conference into a reality. Reread your notes and plans once you're back in the real world, and then break each project down into the significant steps. Finally, schedule those small steps the same way you'd schedule a meeting with a vital client, and don't even consider canceling. Let NOTHING be more important. You'll be amazed at the progress you make. If you find your motivation or your creativity stunted, contact your accountability buddy for brainstorming help.

There's nothing worse that having the same epiphanies year after year, that if you did X or Y or Z, you could bring your business to the heights to which you aspire, and then finding that you did little over the past year to bring those dreams to fruition.

Commit yourself to using your conference action notebook as a compass to guide your way. Even if you don't eventually accomplish or try everything you've listed, you probably won't find yourself writing down "reruns" in your notebook during next year's conference.

Next Tuesday, in lieu of writing and posting here, I'll be on a series of flights from Chattanooga to Atlanta to Los Angeles to Reno for the National Association of Professional Organizers' conference. I'll see you all again the following week, on April 15th!

--
Julie Bestry, Certified Professional Organizer®
Best Results Organizing
"Don't apologize. Organize!"
organize@juliebestry.com
Visit http://www.juliebestry.com to save time and money, reduce stress and increase your productivity

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