2 Ways to Take Care of Yourself at Conventions

I recently spent 3 wonderful days at Geekway to the West, a gaming convention here in St. Louis. I had a blast playing 8 new-to-me games with a wide variety of people from around the country.

Knowing that I had ample time over the 4-day convention, I targeted the space between meals for my attendance (around noon to 6:00 each day), which provided enough time for me to play a bunch of games but also time to recharge and work in the morning and evenings. Also, I decided to get some fresh air and play disc golf on the fourth day instead of returning to Geekway. I drank a lot of water, and I went with the flow instead of scheduling games at specific times–I’ve found that the biggest stressor for me at a convention like this is to feel like I need to finish game A at a certain time so I don’t keep the folks waiting for game B. Also, of course I wore a mask the whole time (I’m fully vaccinated and boosted to protect myself and the people around me), and I showered every day before heading to the convention.

But that’s just me! Today we have a special guest, our diversity, equity, and inclusion consultant, Lydia Wehmeyer, to share more about how you can take care of yourself at conventions and events.

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The month of May is dedicated as Mental Health Awareness Month. MHAM is a national movement to raise awareness about mental health (see Jamey’s previous blog post on this topic). In reflection of this month, I’m going to share a few ways you can take care of yourself mental health at board game conventions:

Develop a Healthy Gaming Schedule

You may have already planned out your convention days with events, meetups and demos etc.. but have you planned out time to self care during this busy time?

Here is an example of a healthy gaming schedule that you could follow:

1. Hydrate: Pack water, Gatorade, or whatever will keep you hydrated during these action packed days
2. Eat!:  I started making a list of snacks I could pack with me that are easily accessible like granola bars, fruit snacks so I can keep my energy up while traveling through the convention. In addition, just as we are able to schedule events, set aside a block of time that you can also eat breakfast, lunch and dinner. There are tons of food trucks and restaurants around just waiting for you!
3. Sleep: Don’t put off sleep! Conventions can be exhausting with the crowds and many people around so for you to be at your best, you have to rest. Schedule naps and rest times where you can just sit and recollect your strength so you can tackle all the fun that awaits you.

Be Selfish

In order to not run the risk of burning yourself out at these large events, you have to be more proactive with focusing on your needs to protect yourself at these events so you can be the best you can be physically and mentally. Here are some tips that you can practice to make sure you are taking care of you:

1. Learn to say no: Saying no at a convention?! As much as it may be hard to do, it is important for yourself as a person to know that it is okay to say no. I still have a hard time saying no to a late night game session, but being able to exercise that small word will help ease anxiety, stress and feeling overwhelmed to not participate at your best. Remember there is only one you!
2. It’s okay to miss things: You don’t have to go to every event that you plan. This was very difficult for me to accept when I first got into conventions because I wanted to go to everything and saying no meant to me that I was missing out on a great time with friends. However, allowing myself to miss things gave me a better way to plan my time at conventions and focus on the priority of making a healthy gaming schedule so I can enjoy my time stress free. 
3. Use the convention resources: Besides demos and events, there are many resources that you can use to recharge yourself at these busy events. For example, there are quiet rooms that you can enjoy a moment for yourself away from all the hustle of the convention floor. There are events such as seminars and workshops where you can learn new things like building chainmail or yoga for gamers.

Overall, to take care of your mental health is to focus on you. Planning a healthy schedule, learning to say no and resting will help you conquer everything you plan for your time at conventions.

Let’s have a wonderful convention season! 

Remember, it’s okay to not be okay and I hope to see you at Origins and Gen Con!!

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Also read: Inclusivity at Events: How to Create a Welcoming Environment This Convention Season

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