For the last 18 months, most of the seminars you’ve attended have been virtual. In-person meetings are returning, but attendees have gotten used to being able to earn credits and learn new skills, all while still staying to see patients and have dinner at home.
The “old days” of packing up and going to a conference meant traveling to a destination and taking half of the week away from the office. While those days are a bit of a distant memory now, what we don’t realize is that we’re cheating ourselves by not taking full advantage of what in-person meetings have to offer.
Here’s what I’m getting at… if you aren’t ready to travel to a conference that requires a long drive or a flight, you are probably going to be tempted to commute from home. The shortcoming with this, is that you then will start thinking about beating the traffic home… or that you have to get somewhere to check on a patient… or other priorities that you have could By leaving early or arriving late, you’re cheating yourself out of time from the event in place.
When you stay at the hotel, the rest of your normal routine is not a distraction. I have personally experienced some of the best conversations in meeting hotel restaurant and bar areas. Conversations about new technology or techniques happen in these spaces after sessions have ended. You connect with colleagues you may not otherwise meet, exchange ideas, and share challenges. These are major advantages to in-person meetings/events!
I’m not encouraging you to ignore your patients, your practice or your family while you’re at a conference. I AM encouraging you to give the conference the appropriate amount of attention so you can maximize your experience and get the most out of what the meeting has to offer.
– Ann