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Looking for the method in my madness . . .
Whenever I work a major event (GenCon, I'm looking at you), I put in a full day at the booth, being cheerful to those who stop by; I do far more physical labor than I do during the more sedentary 99% of my job, thanks mostly to things packed in crates; I spend evenings at Important Meetings; I can't get meals that are remotely like what I eat at home; and of course I don't get enough sleep. This is normal. This . . . is trade show!
Unfortunately, I use diet, exercise (mainly cardio), and sleep to manage my moods, so I go manic about an hour into Day One. Constant overstimulation ensures that I stay manic the whole time. My brain doesn't downshift until I'm back home, tossing my suitcase in the front door. Then my mood crashes; I feel like somebody shot my cat. And that spell lasts for far longer than the events that set it off.
I've been back home from GenCon for two weeks, now, and I noticed tonight that I'm finally feeling normal. This is good. However, I recall this taking just a week back in 1995. I wonder why I'm getting worse at this? Of course, in 1995, I was a newbie and not the most useful member of the crew, so the company would have me there for four days rather than the seven days I gave them this year. And I was 13 years younger then, so age is undoubtedly involved. I'm sure there's a complicated formula for it in DSM-IV.
Anyway, I'm happy to be sane again. I was originally planning to work on Labo(u)r Day, since I rarely synch my telecommuting schedule with the work schedule of the commuting world and often don't even realize that I'm working on a holiday. But I think I'll slack off. It's the only way to be sure.
Unfortunately, I use diet, exercise (mainly cardio), and sleep to manage my moods, so I go manic about an hour into Day One. Constant overstimulation ensures that I stay manic the whole time. My brain doesn't downshift until I'm back home, tossing my suitcase in the front door. Then my mood crashes; I feel like somebody shot my cat. And that spell lasts for far longer than the events that set it off.
I've been back home from GenCon for two weeks, now, and I noticed tonight that I'm finally feeling normal. This is good. However, I recall this taking just a week back in 1995. I wonder why I'm getting worse at this? Of course, in 1995, I was a newbie and not the most useful member of the crew, so the company would have me there for four days rather than the seven days I gave them this year. And I was 13 years younger then, so age is undoubtedly involved. I'm sure there's a complicated formula for it in DSM-IV.
Anyway, I'm happy to be sane again. I was originally planning to work on Labo(u)r Day, since I rarely synch my telecommuting schedule with the work schedule of the commuting world and often don't even realize that I'm working on a holiday. But I think I'll slack off. It's the only way to be sure.
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And I completely understand about cons wiping out real life. I'm back from PAX and it's gonna take a few more days before my body resets to normal.
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As for cons . . . I love getting out of the office (read: away from home) occasionally. I just wish I could do it as some super-important bigwig who flies business class to sip coffee and tug on his beard. Getting up early, sacking out late, lugging crates, and flying crazy hours really sucks energy. Still, I'd rather do that than stay parked at home 24/7/365.