By Julie Lavender @JLavenderWrites

For the last week or more, one of the bulbs in my kitchen flickers when I first turn it on every morning. It burns bright for a minute or two, then goes dark for another couple of minutes. It then comes back on for three minutes, goes dark for a minute, then illuminates again.

This happens over and over, each lighted phase lasting longer. After several flickerings, the light stays bright for the rest of the day.

I’ll admit, once I turn my kitchen lights on in the morning, I rarely turn them off until I go to bed in the wee hours of the morning, which means the light switch goes on between 7 and 7:30 each morning and the LED bulbs burn until 1:30 or 2 in the morning.

I’m a night owl, working best on my computer when I’m the only one awake and the house is still and quiet.

When I finally remembered to tell my husband about my on-again, off-again relationship with one of the bulbs in the kitchen, he responded, “I guess it’s just not a morning bulb.”

I can relate.

I start off slowly when I first rise, but I tend to burn bright until the wee hours of the next day.

This schedule suits me well at home. Not for writing conferences, however.

I purposefully make exceptions to my typical schedule. I may not be a morning bulb at home, but to get to breakfast and the opening session of each day, I shift my schedule to get the most out of every minute at a conference. Last month, I shared tips for staying awake to meet a writing deadline.

This month, allow me to share a few tips to help you get the most out of a writing conference with very little sleep.

* Plan, gather, and pack several days before the conference.

Alleviate last-minute stress that might cause unwanted angst and insomnia just before leaving for the conference by getting completely ready several days before you plan to leave.

* Get plenty of sleep BEFORE leaving for the conference.

I’m not sure if pre-sleeping is a thing … but plan to get several nights of good sleep prior to the conference. Accept the fact that you might not slumber much while at the conference and bank some extra hours beforehand. You’ll want to rise early to spend time with the Lord and to catch those first classes. And you’ll enjoy late night sessions with instructors, new friends, or old acquaintances. Most likely, there’ll be no time for napping in order to fit in daytime classes and appointments.

Besides, one beloved conference director we all know and love, Eva Everson tells us often from the director podium, “You can sleep when you’re dead.”  I don’t advocate lack of sleep on a regular basis, but during conference days, make the most of the time you’re there.

* Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate.

And hydrate some more. Drink plenty of water during the day to avoid fatigue. Dehydration zaps you of energy!

* Eat a nutritious breakfast.

If you plan to skip the cafeteria to get in a few extra winks, pack accordingly to start the day with a nutritious breakfast. You’ll need the energy to sustain your body throughout the day.

* Get outside and take the long way to classes, your room, and the cafeteria.

If situations (and time) allow, make sure to get in extra steps, preferably outside, throughout the day. Focusing on physical activity will give you strength and stamina and help you stay awake during sessions. Pack comfortable shoes to encourage getting those extra steps in!

* Take breaks if necessary.

Again, though I advocate squeezing in every precious moment of the conference, getting your money’s worth, growing your writing career with each opportunity, and meeting as many people as possible, you know your body and health best. If you feel like you need a physical of mental break while at the conference, take it! Sit quietly in your room, wander alone on the campus, find a rocking chair and have a conversation with the Lord, or catch a brief nap.

Can’t wait to see you at an upcoming conference! I’ll be the one a bit bleary-eyed from lack of sleep, but raring to go to make the most of every opportunity! Do you have other tips to stay energized and fresh at a conference while functioning on very little sleep?

Julie Lavender worked on the computer for many nights until the wee hours of the morning to complete her newest book, Raising Good Sons: Christian Parenting Principles for Nurturing Boys of Faith and Characterthat releases the second week of April. Julie co-authored the book, published by Penguin Random House, with her hubby, David. It’s their first faith-based collaborative effort, though they’ve also recently written twenty-two books for the children’s educational market. Julie is also the author of A Gingerbread House, published by End Game Press.