Blog conference reentry: Things that are normal
The links in this post may be affiliate links. That means that if you click them and make a purchase, this site makes a commission. It will have no impact on the price you pay or the experience of your purchase.
Reentry back to real life after the blissful mesh of off and online that is a blog conference can be hard.
I wanted to let you know about a few things that you might experience that are TOTALLY NORMAL while you readjust back to everyday life in the days after returning home.
- Picking your phone up to check notifications in the middle of a conversation. This is acceptable behavior at a conference, but your spouse/child/co-worker/boss/priest may call you on it and say that it's rude. Just try to be aware and you'll eventually get back to being able to go longer stretches of time in between checking. Unless you actually work full time in social, in which case that never happens.
- Being disappointed that no one is leaving random cupcakes on your bed and stickers on your bathroom mirror. You might be able to bribe your kids into leaving you little gifts on your bed, but I wouldn't recommend trying to train a pet to do it because they usually will just poop on your pillow.
- Being selfie ready at all times. Unfortunately, no one in the real world is going to pop up next to you, raise their arm and say, “SELFIE TIME!” And it definitely won't be Kerry Washington.
- Thinking you hear or see your blogger friends everywhere. For several days following a conference, you'll find that you are doing constant double takes when you think you spot an online friend who actually lives in some far off state. Do not approach the strangers, they will run away and maybe call the police.
- You might expect people to hand you random gifts, or snacks or shots. Do not help yourself when you see lovely displays in stores. That's stealing.
- You will find yourself being more motivated, more inspired, more excited, more connected, more confident, more sure, more YOU than you have ever been. Hopefully, this part doesn't go away anytime soon, but if it starts to wane, we're still here for you always.
Did I meet you at Blogher14? How has your reentry been? Will I see you at Blogher15?
“That’s stealing.” Heh. So good to see you! And I’m local so you could actually see me somewhere 🙂
It would make me SO HAPPY to randomly bump into you! I might start shopping at your Costco or something, just to increase my chances!
It was great to see you Lizz. I know #5 is gonna be a tough one. What do you mean no more free ice cream cones?
My family and I are still at the Fairmont, so I’m slowly weening myself out of conference mode. But the good news is,
somehow we just got a random cupcake in our room.
I’ve attended many many many conferences in my time, and this was one of the best. Your list is right on, especially #6!
I am one of the no-longer-a-newbie you speak of. Thank you for helping me come down a little easier and ween myself back into real life!
I was laughing so hard at #1 that I could barely read the rest!
Wasn’t there. . . but I’ll see you soon. Welcome back!
Hi Lizz, it was great to see you (and so soon after Type A boot camp). The hard part is that BlogHer was my last blog conference for the year after going to three in a month.
It will be hard to wait until 2015 to see my online friends IRL!
“Unless you actually work full time in social, in which case that never happens.”
It’s like you were speaking directly to me. xoxo
XOXO Do I really have to wait a whole nother year to see you?
Doesn’t Elisa need to bring you out here for a meeting or something? How’s tomorrow?
I missed being able to walk to a really nice coffee shop after I woke up this morning. Especially since I had to drive to work instead.
It’s too hard adjusting to all this AND the fact that people are now expecting me to make them meals and fold their clothes and stuff. Reentry has been rough.
It’s so hard. And I still have no idea what time it is!!
(So happy to have hung out with ya!)
Also possible at BlogHer and not in real life: two people could decide to hug, and in that hug is your arm, such that you are touching everyone’s boobs. Or maybe that could happen in real life, but it couldn’t be quite as funny.
I totally thought I saw someone on the airplane to Las Vegas. I had to keep reminding myself that my friend had left for home the day before and was headed to San Fransisco. I’m glad I am not the only one seeing people everywhere I go!
Ha ha! #4, totally. 😀
Great to see you last week!
Yes to all these, especially being selfie-ready at all times. I nearly grabbed the dog and did selfie with her. Re-entry is tough when your chute craps out on you.
I just came back to read this again and say hi because I just subscribed to my fave blogs on bloglovin to make my life easier (not spon) and I’m trying to leave comments here and there as I read. So hi!
And OMG I wish I could talk Elisa into bringing me out there again! LOL
So glad I got to meet you! And this is HIGH-larious. Saw it on BlogHer’s recap wrap-up.