How to Help Attendees Focus During a Meeting

Packed meeting and conference agendas often leave little room for something that every single attendee needs: sleep. When attendees don’t get enough sleep, they can’t function as well as they should be, or remember what they’ve learned at the meeting.

“A lot of our memory consolidation actually occurs when we sleep,” explains Andrea E. Sullivan, M.A., founder of BrainStrength Systems. “You need to give the brain time to digest. A lot of creativity happens during sleep. That’s when the brain is doing its homework, so to speak.” 

 

Derek Johnson, executive nutrition director for The Biggest Loser Resorts, agrees. “If you don’t sleep, your body can’t repair itself and you can’t have good energy, and you can’t lose weight. That’s why we have a lights-out policy at The Biggest Loser Resorts.” Johnson says that answering emails, doing work, and watching TV just before bed can also affect the quality of sleep that you have. “About 45 minutes before bed, you need to create a sleep sanctuary to help yourself be calm, and be ready for bed.”

Sullivan says another way to make sure attendees get enough sleep is to change the way you schedule your meeting. “I would suggest that people start their meeting later in the morning. There’s no value in a 7 a.m. breakfast because they need their sleep. Especially on a day where they’re learning a lot of information, you need to give the brain a lot of sleep to have solid memory consolidation.”

Early birds, and those normally accustomed to working out in the mornings will appreciate opportunities for shared morning fitness activities. Hilton Worldwide Senior Director of Global Fitness Jodi Sullivan also notes, “Often after a long day of meetings, we don’t have the energy to exercise, or we don’t have the time with evening dinners and activities. If you plan to exercise in the morning before your meeting starts, you’ll ensure that you get your workout.” Whether that workout is an early morning yoga session on the beach, a bike tour, a power walk, or a Zumba class, the sense of community that develops from these experiences is invaluable. 

“At Reebok, we strive to create a community spirit. It motivates people,” says Reebok Event Marketing Manager Colleen Cosgrove. “It’s a lot more fun to work out in a group than by yourself on a treadmill. It’s great for building bonds as employees and people to have those shared experiences.”