10 steps for less stress at Natural Products Expo West
February 19, 2016
![10 steps for less stress at Natural Products Expo West 10 steps for less stress at Natural Products Expo West](https://eu-images.contentstack.com/v3/assets/blt09e5e63517a16184/bltafc06db067aebac6/64cbf83cdb0bcc7a8de33eaa/NewHopeNetwork_Horizontal_RGB.png?width=700&auto=webp&quality=80&disable=upscale)
Drink water—lots of it. Bright lights and a lot of walking, talking and thinking can leave us feeling depleted. Sipping water throughout the day can help us stay more present, healthy and vibrant throughout the weekend. Carry a water bottle with you around Expo West and mark down how many times you fill it. Set a goal for yourself to fill it four to six times throughout the day (depending on the size of the water bottle).
Remember: Everything is energy. We are not always aware of how we can subconsciously hold onto other people’s energies that might be serving us. Cleansing ourselves intentionally at the end of a "people-filled day" can be beneficial in helping us get a restful night’s sleep. Take a shower after you return to your hotel room or before hopping into bed.
Allow yourself a little downtime before you actually hit the hay. Turn off all electronics and give yourself a little time to be without technology. Consider journaling, reading a book, listening to music or chatting with your roommate instead. This will help to decompress a bit so as to not take on any of the high energy and even anxiety of a big weekend.
How you begin your day can often set your emotional state. If you wake and inundate yourself with intense energy and an immediate to-do list, it can leave you feeling high anxiety and stress. When you wake up in the morning, allow yourself at least 15 minutes to start your day without picking up your phone. When you start your day by grabbing your phone, it centers your day on everything and everyone else right away. The thing is, once you exit your hotel room, your entire day will be about something other than you. This can leave your cup empty and make you feel more exhausted, more easily triggered and annoyed by other things and people. That little bit of intentional space in the morning can help you feel more centered, and more able to show up energized and fueled for interactions.
Be conscious of what you put in your body, and I am not speaking about food. It's nice to "check out" in front of the TV after a big day at Natural Products Expo West. If we choose to watch things that stimulate or rile us up, it can actually energetically do the same. Instead, watch a brainless silly show or movie. Ask yourself, will this support me in feeling refueled, eased and relaxed? If the answer is no, throw on That '70s Show instead of Fox News.
Weekends like this can be super challenging on the body, so what we put into our bodies can support us in feeling more vital, healthy and able to sustain our energy throughout the day. Start the day with breakfast—something that is not loaded with sugar or high in carbs, as that can lead to a big drop in energy. Keep little snacks close by. I like to think of our stomachs as a wood-burning stove, so constantly putting wood in will help us to continue to burn brightly. We are burning a LOT at Expo West, so refueling with healthy snacks (bars, fruit, nuts, green drinks) is important. For lunch and dinner, consider something that is balanced with a little fat, protein and carbs.
These events are very much about schmoozing and entertaining—having to be "on." That said, being conscious of alcohol intake can help us to have more sustained energy, get better sleep, as well as show up more alert. If you choose to drink, consider having a glass of water between every alcoholic beverage to rehydrate.
At Expo West, we are blessed to have yoga available each morning. Whether you are a beginner or an advanced practitioner, breathing deeply, moving intentionally and making that time about YOU can be hugely beneficial, and help you feel better throughout the weekend.
Set the alarm on your phone to go off twice a day, at times you know you won’t be in a seminar. When it goes off, take three deep breaths—a full deep inhale, and a full exhale, where you pull your belly button all the way back toward your lower back on the exhale. This allows the body to have a flood of good ol’ O2 and excrete out the stuff that doesn’t serve. It stimulates the brain, creates more presence and connection with the moment and the self. You will be so glad you did.
After high-energy weekends like Expo West, a lot of us can feel totally zapped. A way we can set ourselves up for success, other than bringing in all of the above tools, is to set aside a little time when you return. And if you are in a relationship, have a family or live with others, speak with your family about maybe having a few hours upon your return to refuel your tank. Do something you love, NOT work. Consider hiking in nature, going to a dance class, getting a massage, golfing, snowboarding, etc. Let others in your home know that you’re doing this in order to be more present and available for them.
After high-energy weekends like Expo West, a lot of us can feel totally zapped. A way we can set ourselves up for success, other than bringing in all of the above tools, is to set aside a little time when you return. And if you are in a relationship, have a family or live with others, speak with your family about maybe having a few hours upon your return to refuel your tank. Do something you love, NOT work. Consider hiking in nature, going to a dance class, getting a massage, golfing, snowboarding, etc. Let others in your home know that you’re doing this in order to be more present and available for them.
Expo West appearance:
Hitting the Pause Button: Small Things You Can Do to Achieve Work Life Balance
4 p.m. Friday, March 11
Marriott, Grand Ballroom G/H
The food, the drinks, the meetings. Natural Products Expo West can be exhausting.
This year, we've added a few education sessions to help exhibitors and attendees take a moment to prioritize themselves during these busy times. Here, the Connection Coach Valerie D’Ambrosio, who will be hosting one of those session, offers quick and easy ideas on how to support yourself during Expo West.
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