For early-career scholars, I suggest they find a community and stick with it. You benefit from making friends, building a network, and establishing a routine in your academic life.
For post-tenure scholars, I suggest they explore a little. You should try out a few new communities - make new friends, gain exposure to new networks and introduce variety to your academic life.
But, really, it's more than that - it's about updating your thinking.
After 20 years of attending the same set of conferences, which were quite large, I found that while I loved my friends & community that, my ideas & approach to research needed a refresh.
So this week, I attended a "fresh conference" that was relatively small for the first time in over a decade.
The contrast to my normal was stark - in my approach.
I found that I went to the sessions (which generally I skip), enjoyed hearing about a different way of thinking about research problems, was exposed to new methods, and actually saw a lot of familiar faces.
What was especially valuable to me, was that those familiar faces were people that I knew in passing but had never really had conversations with - and by breaking out of my routine - I had opportunities to have new conversations.
When the conference ended, I found myself thinking about a new routine - and integrating this smaller, interesting conference with a vibrant community into my annual travel plans.
Breaking from my routine has reinvigorated my thinking & made me see the value in learning new methods.
I'm looking forward to trying out a few new conferences and meeting new communities in the coming year!
Sometimes a little change is a good thing!
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