{"id":646,"date":"2025-07-25T06:03:35","date_gmt":"2025-07-25T06:03:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bettingjobs.eu.applyflow.com\/?p=646"},"modified":"2026-02-26T16:00:17","modified_gmt":"2026-02-26T16:00:17","slug":"ice-barcelona-2025-top-tips-to-beat-the-january-blues-and-maximise-conference-success","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bettingjobs.com\/conferences\/ice-barcelona-2025-top-tips-to-beat-the-january-blues-and-maximise-conference-success\/","title":{"rendered":"ICE Barcelona 2025 \u2013 Top Tips to Beat the January Blues and Maximise Conference Success"},"content":{"rendered":"

With the festive season now a distant memory, that can only mean one thing: the first\u00a0ICE<\/a>\u00a0Barcelona is fast approaching. ICE is undoubtedly the most anticipated and highly regarded event on the iGaming calendar. Across three jam-packed days filled with networking, meetings, live talks, and so much more, the conference attracts over 45,000 of the brightest and most innovative minds from across the global iGaming industry.<\/p>\n

This year, with the event taking place a few weeks earlier than usual, the opening day of ICE Barcelona coincides with Blue Monday, also referred to as the \u201cmost depressing day\u201d of the year. Characterised by feelings of low energy, sadness, and a lack of motivation, Blue Monday is when the post-festive slump hits hard, and the thought of summer feels like a distant dream.<\/p>\n

To help beat the January blues and prepare for ICE Barcelona 2025, we caught up with\u00a0Leo Judkins<\/a>, Founder and High-Performance Coach at\u00a0iGamingLeader.com<\/a>. He shares his expert insights and top tips on shifting the mindset often associated with Blue Monday, ensuring you get the most out of your conference experience \u2013 before, during, and after the event.<\/p>\n

\n

Drawing on your industry experience, what are your top tips on how to maintain energy levels during intense networking events such as ICE Barcelona, especially when they coincide with the January blues?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Energy is really two things: how you energise yourself before the day begins and how you maintain that energy throughout the day. There\u2019s some overlap between the two, but both are important. Firstly, you want to ensure you\u2019re getting enough restful sleep. One of the biggest mistakes people make is not considering how much quality sleep they\u2019re actually getting. A key factor here is reducing screen time before bed, which can be a scary thought for many, especially the idea of not having your phone in the room. But improving your sleep quality is a non-negotiable step in making sure your \u201cbattery\u201d is fully charged.<\/p>\n

At conferences, maintaining energy gained from restful sleep throughout the day is crucial. For those in roles such as sales, listening to people can be draining \u2013 not because they\u2019re boring, but just because it can be difficult to focus for extended periods.\u00a0 That\u2019s why it\u2019s important to stay hydrated and take regular breaks between meetings ensuring you truly recharge and clear your mind.<\/p>\n

For most, alcohol is a big part of networking events, which is fine, but it\u2019s important to bear in mind how it can affect your energy levels. Therefore, setting boundaries around alcohol consumption can help you manage your energy more effectively. In sales roles for example, deals are often done over drinks and late at night, rather than during the actual conference which can create a bit of a challenge<\/p>\n

Another thing to consider is how to switch off once you return to your hotel. Many people end up playing catch-up with work from the office, which leads to them doing twice the amount of work and not fully recharging.<\/p>\n

What tools and apps can help leaders remain strategically organised and optimise productivity before and during ICE Barcelona?<\/strong><\/p>\n

The most effective piece of advice I would give here is actually to\u00a0reduce\u00a0<\/em>your use of technology. Constant screen time can pull you into \u201cdoom scrolling\u201d and prevent you from truly switching off.<\/p>\n

In terms of conference tools, I recently spoke with a commercial director about this, and a big thing we spoke about was using your phone\u2019s Notes app (I\u2019m not sure if this applies to Android in the same way it does with Apple). Simply start a new note for each person you meet, you can include a photo of their business card, along with any key points from your conversation. Another tip is to record a quick voice memo right after the meeting, which is even better in my opinion. We often think we\u2019ll remember all the details of a conversation, but our brains are terrible at retaining that information\u2014especially when you\u2019re having multiple meetings in one day. So, capturing key points in a note-taking app is a powerful way to help keep track and stay organised. When we listen, we listen to respond, not to truly understand. But when you focus on listening to understand, using active listening techniques especially when the conversation is being recorded, this allows you to become more present. You\u2019ll then pick up on important details, and most importantly, the person you\u2019re speaking with will feel heard. This is exactly what we want in any business interaction.<\/p>\n

The second key thing is using your calendar strategically. Don\u2019t just schedule meetings but also block out time for breaks in between. Massive conferences like ICE attract over 45,000 attendees, which can be very overwhelming. It\u2019s going to take time to get from A to B, so incorporating a bit of breathing room between meetings is essential. For those looking to optimise even further, tools like Calendly can help streamline your booking system. Additionally, setting an \u2018out-of-office message\u2019 on your email is an effective way to manage expectations and let others know what your communication and response time will be while you\u2019re at the conference. These apps and tech tips can make a big difference in helping you stay energised and organised throughout the event.<\/p>\n

What are some of your main strategies for staying healthy and focused during multi-day conferences and back-to-back meetings?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Everything is in the planning. At conferences, things often become very ad-hoc, and that\u2019s okay \u2013 a lot of people hate routine, which is also fine. But when you take the time to plan and structure your day, especially before the chaos begins, it allows you to have that unstructured time for spontaneous meetings and interactions. Setting clear intentions and boundaries for your day is key.<\/p>\n

One of the core principles we cover in our coaching program is being proactive before reactive. Most people fall into the reactive trap \u2013 opening emails first thing, responding to messages, and suddenly dealing with a whirlwind of problems. Instead, if you spend just 5-10 minutes at the start of your day to plan, set intentions, and define goals, it provides clarity and mental space to navigate your day effectively. This approach also applies to health and well-being. Planning breaks, scheduling time for lunch, and staying hydrated \u2013 these basic principles are ones we often remind our kids about (not that they\u2019re going to conferences, of course!). But these are the same things we should apply to ourselves. Being intentional about these simple actions can make a huge difference.<\/p>\n

So, the first thing is being proactive rather than reactive. The second trap many fall far is protecting your boundaries. It\u2019s not other people who overstep your boundaries; it\u2019s you not protecting them well enough, allowing other people to overstep them. Once you set your boundaries, make sure you protect them.<\/p>\n

How can leaders implement effective delegation strategies to support staff balancing time between the office and international events?<\/strong><\/p>\n

The biggest thing is for those attending the conference. The people staying at the office will continue with their regular work, but they\u2019ll have less availability from the person they normally work with as they\u2019re away. I believe as the conference attendee; it\u2019s your responsibility to communicate clearly and set expectations upfront. Be explicit about your response times and what communication will look like while you\u2019re away.<\/p>\n

Again, taking a proactive approach here is key. Time-block your calendar for when you\u2019ll check in and communicate with the office. Set up out-of-office notifications and make it clear that response times will be slower during the conference. Without that effective planning, you risk setting yourself up for a 16-hour workday for several days in a row, which simply isn\u2019t sustainable. Strategically planning your day is crucial for maintaining balance and avoiding burnout.<\/p>\n

The third key point is delegation. When senior leadership figures attend a conference while the majority of the team remains at the office, it\u2019s crucial that leaders delegate not just tasks, but also autonomy and decision making. One of the biggest mistakes many leaders make is that they only delegate tasks without giving any decision-making power, meaning they\u2019ll always going to be the bottleneck. If you find yourself being the bottleneck in your organisation, unable to step away because you\u2019re doing everything yourself, that\u2019s a leadership style that needs to change. While this change may not happen during ICE, it\u2019s something to consider for the next conference: how can you ensure you\u2019re not the bottleneck, and how can you effectively delegate responsibilities whilst empowering the team to make decisions without the final say constantly lying with you?<\/p>\n

The issue most leaders have with delegation is because they think that if they do things themselves, it will be quicker and to a higher standard \u2013 i.e. their own standard, which is often debatable if that is, a higher standard. While this might be true in the short term, continuing this approach long-term means you\u2019ll always be the bottleneck. The key is recognising that if something can be done at 80% of the quality and speed you would do it, then you must delegate it.<\/p>\n

Furthermore, how can managers\/workplaces support team members who are balancing responsibilities outside of work, such as family, children, and pets, while traveling to multi-day conferences?<\/strong><\/p>\n

The biggest thing here is being clear about your boundaries and protecting them. It\u2019s easy to fall into the trap of working 16-hour days at a conference, running on very little sleep, whilst drinking and partying late into the night, and constantly interacting with people. Then, when you return home of course, if you have a family, there\u2019s often an expectation from your partner to be there to be there for the kids. Everyone is exhausted, and it can be hard to show up fully, which can lead to disappointment on both sides: one parent feels let down for not having time to recover, while the other feels frustrated that their partner isn\u2019t fully present for the family. That\u2019s why it\u2019s imperative to communicate your needs and expectations early. We\u2019ve all been on this rodeo many times, so you know what\u2019s going to happen. Plus, use the opportunity to improve \u2013 think about small ways you can handle the situation slightly better than before, taking that extra step to \u201cone-up\u201d yourself.<\/p>\n

The third key point is giving yourself buffers on both sides \u2013 before and after the conference. Allow time to prepare and energise before you leave, and just as importantly, give yourself space to recover and ease back into normal life and routine when you return. Most people make the mistake of diving straight back into work, which isn\u2019t a good idea. You need time to recharge so you can perform at your best \u2013 so those are things I\u2019d recommend.<\/p>\n

Being intentional about your time is crucial, whether you have kids or not. You could rush back into work after a conference, but you shouldn\u2019t. Conferences like ICE are very intense, and you\u2019ll have a lot of follow-ups to manage. Giving yourself time to recover is super important. High performance is really not about doing more \u2013 it\u2019s actually about being disciplined in prioritising recovery. Think of it like a top athlete competing in the Olympics. After sprinting for 4 days, they wouldn\u2019t jump straight back into intense training, would they? They would take the time to recover. The same principle applies to you.<\/p>\n

How can individuals best manage post-event burnout and return to work effectively following ICE Barcelona?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Burnout is an interesting concept \u2013 it typically doesn\u2019t happen from doing too much. It usually happens from feeling the activities you\u2019re engaged in aren\u2019t aligned with your values, and when tasks feel heavy and draining. Feeling low on energy after an event is actually very normal, which is why recovery is so important. Think of it like a laptop battery: if it\u2019s at 20%, the last thing you want to do is run loads of applications. We all get anxious when our phone battery is in the red, so we switch to power-saving mode and this is exactly what you should be doing after a high-energy event.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s tough though, because you\u2019ll have leads and conversations to follow up on, and work waiting for you from before the event. But it\u2019s important to exercise self-discipline when it comes to rest and recovery, not in working harder. Without proper rest and recovery, you won\u2019t have the energy or mental clarity to solve problems or get things done effectively.<\/p>\n

\n

We\u2019d like to extend our thanks to\u00a0Leo Judkins<\/a>\u00a0for joining us in this article and for sharing valuable tips on making the most of our time at\u00a0ICE<\/a>\u00a0Barcelona, beating the January blues, and staying positive, happy, and healthy.<\/p>\n

For more information about Leo Judkins\u2019s iGaming leadership coaching services, podcast, and more, visit:\u00a0https:\/\/www.igamingleader.com<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

With the festive season now a distant memory, that can only mean one thing: the first\u00a0ICE\u00a0Barcelona is fast approaching. ICE is undoubtedly the most anticipated and highly regarded event on the iGaming calendar. Across three jam-packed days filled with networking, meetings, live talks, and so much more, the conference attracts over 45,000 of the brightest…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":649,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"none","footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-646","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-conferences"],"acf":[],"post_author_name":"","post_authors_type":"","post_authors_from_team_members":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bettingjobs.com\/af-api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/646","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bettingjobs.com\/af-api\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bettingjobs.com\/af-api\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bettingjobs.com\/af-api\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bettingjobs.com\/af-api\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=646"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.bettingjobs.com\/af-api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/646\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":650,"href":"https:\/\/www.bettingjobs.com\/af-api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/646\/revisions\/650"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bettingjobs.com\/af-api\/wp\/v2\/media\/649"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bettingjobs.com\/af-api\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=646"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bettingjobs.com\/af-api\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=646"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bettingjobs.com\/af-api\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=646"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}