http://www.astrobetter.com/preventing-the-aas-ick/ Tips and Tricks for Professional Astronomers Fri, 30 Jul 2010 02:17:53 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 http://www.astrobetter.com/preventing-the-aas-ick/comment-page-1/#comment-487 Mr Squid Sun, 04 Oct 2009 18:17:46 +0000 http://www.astrobetter.com/?p=935#comment-487 My advice is to be sure to take time to relax during the meeting. You do not need to be at every talk, and you do not need to spend all of your free time networking. There are some nice places to eat right across the street from the upcoming DC meeting. Eat at some of them instead of at the hotel. There is a zoo (with an octopus) a ten-minute walk away, and it is a pleasant walk, so perhaps spend an afternoon there. The hotel is right next to a subway stop, so it is easy to take a day off and play tourist if you want to. My advice is to be sure to take time to relax during the meeting. You do not need to be at every talk, and you do not need to spend all of your free time networking. There are some nice places to eat right across the street from the upcoming DC meeting. Eat at some of them instead of at the hotel. There is a zoo (with an octopus) a ten-minute walk away, and it is a pleasant walk, so perhaps spend an afternoon there. The hotel is right next to a subway stop, so it is easy to take a day off and play tourist if you want to.

]]> http://www.astrobetter.com/preventing-the-aas-ick/comment-page-1/#comment-481 Kelle Sat, 03 Oct 2009 04:20:28 +0000 http://www.astrobetter.com/?p=935#comment-481 - DON'T STRESS. Stress weakens the immune system. You're talk/poster is excellent. You're smart enough and gosh darn it, people like you. Don't stress too much, or you'll get sick much easier. - HYDRATE. With all the boozing, be sure to keep drinking water both at night and during the day. Best to start on the plane, otherwise you're just starting the trip off de-hydrated. - SLEEP. it's probably okay to miss the morning session if you were out late the night before. I try to be sure I get at least one 8-hour sleep mixed in with the 3-4 hour ones. - WASH HANDS...and avoid touching your eyes, mouth, and nose. It's something we hear all the time and yet most of us still don't do it enough. When I'm about to pass up a chance to wash my hands, I start to think about all the door knobs and hand rails I've touched and the hand held appetizers I'm about to go eat, and then I turn around and wash my hands. I also like to use antibacterial hand gel on my hands after I get settled into my airplane seat...sometimes I even wipe down my armrest with a little gel and a tissue. If you choose to do this, be prepared to be horrified at what comes off. - DON’T STRESS. Stress weakens the immune system. You’re talk/poster is excellent. You’re smart enough and gosh darn it, people like you. Don’t stress too much, or you’ll get sick much easier.
- HYDRATE. With all the boozing, be sure to keep drinking water both at night and during the day. Best to start on the plane, otherwise you’re just starting the trip off de-hydrated.
- SLEEP. it’s probably okay to miss the morning session if you were out late the night before. I try to be sure I get at least one 8-hour sleep mixed in with the 3-4 hour ones.
- WASH HANDS…and avoid touching your eyes, mouth, and nose. It’s something we hear all the time and yet most of us still don’t do it enough. When I’m about to pass up a chance to wash my hands, I start to think about all the door knobs and hand rails I’ve touched and the hand held appetizers I’m about to go eat, and then I turn around and wash my hands. I also like to use antibacterial hand gel on my hands after I get settled into my airplane seat…sometimes I even wipe down my armrest with a little gel and a tissue. If you choose to do this, be prepared to be horrified at what comes off.

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