The Insider's Guide to Maximizing Your Conference Experience
Prioritize Your Day
One of the most effective ways to make the most of a psychiatry conference is to plan your day around the conference agenda. Start by identifying the talks that are most relevant to your current job and career goals. These should be your top priorities for the day. Then, select secondary talks that align with your future goals. By prioritizing your day in this way, you can ensure that you get the most value from each session.
Pace Yourself for Long Days
Psychiatry conferences can be intense, with long days filled with back-to-back sessions. To avoid burnout, limit yourself to attending a max number of talks before taking a break (my max is 4). Use this time to recharge your batteries by taking a nap, going for a walk outside, or grabbing lunch with a friend. Pace yourself throughout the day to ensure that you can stay engaged and focused.
Stay in the Conference Hotel
To make the most of your conference experience, consider staying in the hotel where the conference is being held. This can provide easy access to the conference venue, allowing you to quickly get to and from sessions. Staying in the conference hotel provides a convenient place to rest if needed between sessions without stress. Tip to save money: share a room with a friend or bring your partner and make it a working vacation!
Network and Make New Connections
Conferences are excellent opportunities to expand your professional network and make new connections. Take the time to introduce yourself to other attendees, especially those who work in areas of interest to you. Building relationships with colleagues can lead to valuable collaborations and career opportunities down the line.
Utilize Professional Connections for Career Advancement
One of the significant benefits of attending conferences is the chance to meet influential people in your field. For example, I once met a nurse educator at a conference who later helped me secure a job at UCLA. By maintaining contact with her, I was able to leverage this professional connection to advance my career. Make sure to follow up with new contacts after the conference to continue building these relationships.
Lastly, don't hesitate to make your conference experience a working vacation. As a business owner, you can write off conference-related expenses on your taxes, making it a smart financial decision but also a break from the daily norm for you.
This is a MAJOR benefit to being a business owner, implement it!
Use conferences as an opportunity to learn, grow, and further your career but also enjoy your time. Enjoy how far you’ve come and what you’ve created for yourself within your private practice; you deserve this!
If you're interested in learning more about this topic, check out my latest YouTube video for additional insights and tips ⤵️
If you're looking for guidance and mentorship on your journey to private practice ownership, I'm here to help. At this point, I’ve assisted 80+ PMHNPs in making this transition.
You can find more information about how I can support you below ⤵️
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Believe in yourself, trust in your abilities and know that support is available to help you make your private practice dreams a reality.