How to use wine & coffee to improve your presentations.
First up, I want to say this particular 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: The creativity unlocker.
You know those moments when you just have a mental block? You’ve got a presentation to write. A deadline. A blank slide. And absolutely nothing is coming to you.
Turns out, a little bit of wine might be your unexpected ally.
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? One glass might loosen you up and let the bold ideas in.
Coffee: The editor’s fuel. But take care.
If wine can help open the creative door, coffee is the go-to for that energy boost to hit deadlines and get the slides over the line.
Caffeine helps with focus, stamina and sprints. That’s not news. What is worth noting is that 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. Again, the evidence is in 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 it 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, rehearsing. 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 strategy.
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
