How to use wine & coffee to improve your presentations.
First up, I want to say this blog isn’t a puff piece.
It isn’t an attention-grabbing story for cheap Likes.
This is about your presentation-creation strategy.
And my theory is backed up with evidence.
Because if you use wine and coffee the right way, they can absolutely help you build better presentations.
Let’s start with wine.
Wine. A creativity unlocker.
You know those moments when you have a mental block? You’ve got a presentation to write, a deadline and a blank slide. And absolutely nothing is coming to you.
Turns out, a little bit of wine could be an unexpected friend.
A study published in Consciousness and Cognition found that a small amount of alcohol can improve creative problem-solving. That’s right. A glass of red could be the key to cracking your presentation’s killer opening or framing your idea with more originality. The link at the bottom of this blog is the evidence.
Now, let’s be clear. We’re talking mild intoxication. This isn’t the green light to down a bottle of Merlot during office hours.
But if you’re safely at home, brainstorming your next big idea, then a single glass might loosen you up and let the bold ideas in.
Coffee. For editing and focus. But take care.
If wine can help open the creative door, coffee is the go-to for an energy boost to hit deadlines and get the slide deck over the line.
Caffeine helps with focus, stamina and speedy turnarounds.
I know that’s not news. What’s worth pointing is that, for some people, coffee sometimes comes with a side effect that isn’t often mentioned: nerves.
Caffeine can increase anxiety and can heighten that shaky, breathless feeling just before you present. Some people call it ‘feeling jittery.’ For more information on this, check the link below.
So, use coffee wisely. Maybe skip it entirely in the hour before your talk, especially if you’re already feeling nervous.
Here’s how to make coffee and wine work for you.
• Wine when you’re stuck at the start. Brainstorming, framing, structure, big ideas. This is where creativity matters most. Use it to break out of your usual thinking.
• Coffee when you’re shaping, editing, formatting, rushing towards a deadline. Focus and energy are the name of the game.
• Neither wine nor coffee right before the big presentation. Drink water. Stay balanced.
To sum up - Consider a fluid strategy.
You may have never considered it before, but a beverage strategy could be part of your presentation-creation routine.
Let’s not get carried away though, I don’t think this should be your BAU working life, or everyday approach to presentations.
Be intentional, stay in control.
It’s worth a thought.
Hate public speaking? Let’s fix that.
If you want to start your journey to banish your fear of public speaking and presenting, improve your confidence, and boost your career prospects, then check out the online masterclass here at Better Public Speaking.
Research links
Wine research: https://www.decanter.com/wine-news/wine-might-solve-writers-block-says-study-374392/
Coffee research: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/0092656680900276
