Ways To Make Conference Breaks Interesting

Enthusiasm can flag at conferences if attendees don’t get enough time to relax between sessions. But while tea and coffee are a great go-to, trying something a little more imaginative can actually boost participant engagement and re-energise attendees for the next leg of the day.

Here are a few ideas to try at your next event.

1. Line Up
This is a quick game where players have to form an orderly line without any discussion, or any verbal cues or help at all. The line is formed by predetermined criteria like height. The tasks can get more complicated the more familiar the group is. This game helps develop team collaboration and non-verbal communication.

2. The Marshmallow Challenge

Break your team into groups of four. Give each group 20 sticks of spaghetti, three feet of tape, three feet of string, and one marshmallow. Ask them to build the tallest freestanding structure they can. Sit back and see what happens. The marshmallow challenge makes the perfect icebreaker and team-building hybrid.

3. Wellness sessions
Offer people the chance to unwind with a spot of meditation. Meditation increases concentration and attention span, so participants can focus on the things that matter – like the next important meeting at the event.

4. Themed coffee breaks
Immerse your guests in a whole new world with a themed break. Whether guests are attending the Mad Hatter’s tea party in Wonderland or find themselves navigating through a jungle to get to the coffee machine, themed breaks surprise guests and will wake them up after hours of concentration.

5. Fun and fitness
A jam-packed conference can take its toll on participants. Revive your guest by offering them light exercise in the breaks. Exercising increases blood flow to the muscles and pumps oxygen to the brain, revitalising people and getting them ready to engage.

6. Live entertainment
A circus act or a musical performance – even if it’s just someone with their guitar – during a break will get guests talking and make your conference one to remember. Or you could take it a step further with some live magic or even a stand-up comic to give everyone a giggle.

7. Find Your Pair
Prepare word pairs, like salt and pepper, milk and honey, sail and wind etc on separate pieces of paper. Tape one to each person’s back. People then have to walk around and ask closed questions (with a yes or no answer) to find out what their phrase is. Once they find out, they have to find their pair & by continuing to ask questions (these can be open or closed) they have to learn 3 new things about the other.