Your conference agenda might not be malleable. You might be stuck with the tried-and-true format of breakfast > keynote > panel > break > breakouts > lunch > breakouts > closing session > party.
But this flow is killing your attendees' brains.
It's taking the energy they started with and slowly sucking it right out of them.
But there's hope!
You have an opportunity to boost their brain again with thoughtfully-planned breaks before sending back inside that windowless ballroom.
Here's 10 engaging break ideas to bring back the energy:
Therapy pet break! You've had a puppy party, but have you ever had a box of kittens and a pile of laser pointers for attendees to play with? How about an animal petting zoo? You really can't go wrong with a new twist on animals.
Smoothie bikes! Blend your own smoothie with a pedal-powered smoothie!
Stretch stations! Bring in wedges and other items to let participants stretch out after sitting for hours at a time.
Meditation rooms! Let participants step away into a quiet space to clear their mind and prepare for the next session.
Collaborative art or building stations! Outfit the hallway with LEGO kits or quick arts and crafts for people to grab their coffee and settle in for a new minutes to complete something simple that they can take home.
Old-school arcade & console games! Set to free play, bringing in the quick games from the golden ages of arcades line Q-Bert, Pac-Man, Ms. Pac-Man, Centipede, and Asteroids or set up living room sets with classic Atari, Nintendo, and Play Station games to let attendees get a hit of nostalgia and activate their competitive spirit.
Organize a quick walk! Get attendees moving with a walk inside or outside the building.
Cultural coffee/tea tastings! Organize stations for coffees and teas from around the world to pique attendees' interest in trying something new, while also providing the caffeine or caffeine-free options they want.
15-minute Digital Detox Challenge! Challenge your attendees to go phone-free for this coffee break and actually connect with each other! (Supplement it with an additional 10 minute Digital Immersion to clear out those emails and notifications before the next session).
The Book Nook Coffee Break! With a pile of children's books and sharpie markers, invite participants to pick their favorite book and write an encouraging note in the front. Deliver these books to a local children's hospital!
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