Surviving Travel and Conference--Part I

This past week I have been travelling in order to attend a conference being held out of state. It is amazing how much focus I put on my limitations while preparing for this trip. With lifting limitations and problems with weak legs and back spasms, I knew my challenges were ahead of me.

Some of the things I did to prepare:

• Made a list ahead of time of things I would definitely need to take.
  
• I scaled down my wardrobe in order to condense my luggage needs. I selected pants and tops that I could mix and match and I added light accessories like scarfs and jewelry. Doing so enabled me to leave out the suit jackets and opt for light sweaters.
  
• I limited my shoes as well-including a set of good sneakers for walking and all purpose shoes/dress shoes
• I also included my heating pad and my meds.
  
• I knew the hotel would have a hair dryer and shampoo/conditioner so I carried small bottles of everything I needed rather than large ones.
• My laptop and case are a heavy item so I went through and cleaned out the case, removing everything except the power cords and network connectors. That was a big help.
  

When I finished, I had one large suitcase and my laptop case. I carried important items in a backpack with my fanny pack inside it. This helped with carry-on and check-in procedures.

When I arrived to park my car, arrive at the airport and check-in, I sought out assistance. For me this was a new thing since I tend to be an independent lady and tend to try and do everything by myself. But I realized I needed the assistance and it was not wise for me to risk any more problems than I was already dealing with by being stubborn!

My travel plans included a time of rest once I arrived in my room. I use this time to regroup, look at the options of how I would spend my time and determine what my plan would be. During this time, I enjoyed my heating pad and actually took a brief nap. The important thing was I gave myself time to do this.

It is important to plan ahead in order to remain calm and relaxed during this time. In spite of my limitations, I managed to accomplish a lot during this trip. Part II will include some of the adventures I went on and how I am managing the conference so far!

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