Staying healthy at Comic-Con

14 JULY 2024

I intended to write up a summary of the panels (overall verdict: missing a few things, but I'm basically pleased.) However, illness smote me down today, forcing me to think about something many of us take for granted: staying healthy at Comic-Con. Which also - with summer COVID on the rise - includes staying healthy for Comic-Con. Nothing is worse than getting infectious or injured right before your most anticipated trip of the year. 

So, to state the obvious: rest up. 

I hate that I can no longer stay out all night, but sleep deprivation hits hard these days. If you're still in the springtime of life where you are bursting with energy 24/7, have at it. I used to be you, carousing all night at SDCC and then coming back to the hotel at sunrise, yet still full of vigor for the day ahead. 

But if that isn't you, rest up this coming weekend and - boring as this sounds - get a decent night's sleep at Con. Or least nap first before going out. You will crash otherwise because the Con is super taxing.

Boost your immunity now. 

This depends on how much of a supplements person you are. If you normally subscribe to the power of echinacea, bee pollen, Emergen-C, zinc, Vitamin D, etc., start your regimen a few days before Con. There's a reason so many people get sick from SDCC - we're all touching escalator railings, book covers, panel seats, tables and other surfaces touched by hundreds of others.

Nurture your feet. 

If you're going to buy a new pair of shoes, do so now and break them so you're not in blister hell at SDCC. If you're going to rely on the same tennis shoes or trainers or whatever else you wear, assess how much support they really give you. At least put in a pair of orthotics. Your feet will thank you later. 

I say this as someone who generally wears heels almost everywhere. I bought an expensive pair of Hokas last month that look heinous and feel like walking on a cloud; Comic-Con is all about comfort over vanity. (I know you cosplayers may disagree.)

Nurture your mind too. 

We tend to celebrate and remember the elation of our Comic-Con days and forget how stressful - and sometimes lonely - it can be. The constant crowds and noise can work our last nerve; so can an annoying roommate. Or you're the annoying roommate but you didn't realize it and now everyone is ostracizing you. Or you're just not able to access any of the panels and events you wanted. Whatever it is, people do melt down at Comic-Con, so prep however you need to - nearby 12-step meetings, telepsych, medication, a scheduled day away from the madness.

Bring a small pharmacy. 

Aspirin, eye drops, band-aids, sunscreen, back/knee/ankle braces and other magic tricks can be the one thing that keeps you enjoying Comic-Con instead of retreating to your hotel to lick your wounds. If you think there's even a sub-atomic chance that you might hook up with someone, bring condoms. Sleep masks and eye plugs can help you block out city noise and roommates who creep in and out of your room at strange hours. There's a CVS in the Gaslamp where everyone goes for this stuff but you probably won't feel like making the journey there when something is sunburned, aching, or blistered.

Bring a collapsible stool, camping pad or something other support.

Attendees overestimate their ability to endure a long line all the time. Nothing is more tragic than investing 5 hours in a line and realizing the screaming pain in your back is forcing you to go home. 

Ask CCI for help.

CCI offers rest areas, private areas for nursing mothers, a first aid team, wheelchairs, ASL interpreters, special seating, mobility assistance, and - I believe - assistance on shuttles for users of wheelchairs and other supports. This is all there for you, the attendee, so go ahead and ask for it.

Eat well.

Everyone has their culinary tricks at SDCC - some people love food trucks and Subway, some people make time for long luxurious meals, some brave souls eat Exhibit Hall food. In general, remember that you can't always eat when you want if you're going to be in Hall H or Ballroom 20 all day or waiting for an offsite for hours, so think ahead and don't subsist on crap. SDCC is a physically (and sometimes emotionally) draining experience, so try to keep your mood and blood sugar stable.

Limit your indulgence. 

I know, I know: so many parties, so little time. You have to meet this person for drinks, then go to this party you got tickets for, and then cut out to go to some live art show, and 4 stops later you've gone from squiffy to annihilated. And then you're too sick to enjoy anything the next day or even get out of bed. It's not worth it - just my opinion - and it's unfair if your friends wind up missing some of their Con because they're taking care of you.

Escape.

If you're an introvert, cut yourself off from the chaos for a bit. Go hang out in the film festival or an anime marathon or the Playback Room and isolate in the dark. Go swimming at your hotel. Or go walk around the zoo or go to the beach. It can give you a second wind for Con chaos, especially if you have roommates and feel like you're not getting enough alone time.

I didn't say anything about COVID because I think everyone already knows what side they land on in terms of to mask or not to mask. And in a larger sense, some people just expect to get sick at SDCC and factor it in as the price of being there. But I think it's stupid to throw all caution to the wind and act like it's any other week - it's not. Take a little extra care with yourself and you will enjoy your time at the Con that much more.