The Post-Conference Mind & Body Cleanse

I love conferences.

It doesn't matter if I'm attending or presenting they are always a highlight for me.

But there is a very predictable paradox when professionals attend a conference or convention.

The majority leave completely filled with collaboration, education, innovation and inspiration, but totally empty from the alcohol, caffeine, heavy meals, hotel-living, sugar, sitting, travel, early-mornings, late-nights, lots of learning and non-stop networking.

And after all of that, they have to dive right back into the middle of an intense workweek or face a mighty scary Monday followed by a full week without any down time.

This killer combination leads to more stress, reduced health, worse performance and a big increase in the chance of getting sick!

It is on each individual attendee to accept the responsibility for their choices on how they want to live and experience the event.

To help myself and clients rebound quickly from a conference or convention I've put together The Post-Conference Mind/Body Cleanse.

I can't wait to share 13 strategies that refresh the mind and revitalize the body through activating the five main detoxification pathways (breathing, defecation, skin, sweat and urination) and more.

When your physical, mental and emotional cups are overflowing there is zero room for anything new, better or more...let's cleanse!

Water & Lemon - The best solution for pollution is dilution! Drink a minimum of 2 liters of water per day (aiming for 1/2 your body weight in ounces of water) and add lots of fresh lemon which is a perfect liver food and body cleanser.
Shvitz in a Sauna - Not only does it help to calm the mind and relax the body, but the hot temperatures of a sauna, steam room and hot tub promote sweating to allow toxins to clear out through the skin.
Drizzle Olive Oil - Add a tablespoon of cold-pressed, organic, unrefined, unheated olive oil twice daily to cooked dishes and raw salads for a good fat, liver tonic and intestinal lubricant.
Go Greens - Snack on crunchy cucumbers, celery and carrots then swap your serving of grains or starches with a green vegetable and aim to make half your plate veggies. The higher fiber-content will help move out body's waste, lower your calories, keep you feeling full and pump you up with nutrients.
Feng Shui The Swag - Another lanyard! That sack full of freebies, handouts and business cards will clutter up your office which causes pressure to build up in the mind from a cramped and chaotic space. Donate, recycle and toss anything you don't really need.
Dandelion Tea - This coffee and caffeine-replacement is also very supportive of the liver and if you are looking to kick the habit for good try Coffee Fix.
Tackle To-Do's - Your To-Do list can be overwhelming when you return from a conference especially because it's exponentially grown while you were away. Strategically separate your To-Do list into: 'Must', 'Should', and 'Would Like To'. Focus on completing all the 'Must' items during the first few days and put off the 'Should' and 'Would Like To' until you have caught up with the top priorities.
Data Dump - It's estimated we have 68,000 thoughts per day and that is before attending a 3-day conference. Now your brain is bursting with new ideas, names, knowledge and solutions! Rather than exhausting your mental muscles by trying to commit it all to memory, dump it all out onto one page. Then use the 'Must', 'Should' and 'Would Like To' strategy to smartly work through it.
Sleep Hygiene Routine - After burning the candle on both ends with early-mornings and late-nights, it's time to get your body clock back on track. Unplug, dim lights and relax about 30 to 90 minutes before a 10:30PM bedtime to regain mental clarity and physical energy.
Sweet Retreat - Squash post-conference sweet cravings and sugar self-sabotaging behaviors by substituting Stevia, raw honey, dried fruit, fresh fruit, sweet potatoes, sugar snap peas, fresh-pressed green juices and smoothies.
Detox-ercise - Exercise puts you in the detox express lane after being stuck to a chair for days during presentations, meetings, meals and transportation through the deep breathing, muscle/organ/circulation pumping and sweating.
Mindful Minute - Clean up a mental mess with a mindful minute of slow breathing. Take six 10-second breaths. Stop. Sit. And Breathe. Inhale on a count of 1-2-3-4-5 and exhale on a count of 5-4-3-2-1.
Inbox Annihilation - seeing 200 unread emails can make anyone feel suffocated and stressed. Come up for air by clearing out your inundated Inbox with these tips:

Always take an action after reading
Block time over all-day graze
Use quick and no replies
Delete or delegate

7-Day Post-Conference Cleanse Challenge

I wrote this article for something waaaaay beyond information...transformation is my end game. It's not enough to learn and not apply something to your life. You now have a list of 13 different ways to cleanse your mind/body post-conference/convention, but how will your life be different after reading this article? What change will you make? What inspired action will you take?

I recommend choosing no more than four of the tips and apply them for the next seven consecutive days. If you like them, continue. Follow what feels good. I encourage you to make a promise to yourself that you can keep for the next seven days and then consider trying different tips or just keep them handy for the next conference or convention this year. Your mind and body are so worth it!