…when your readers start sending you things like this! Thank you, Nicole, for the laugh. (I think?)
Seriously, if there are any public speakers out there who are reading this, I’ve got a question for you: on the days that you speak, do you drink coffee? I will be giving my first talk ever to a group of homeschooling moms in about a month, and then a second talk to a group of First Communicants & their parents two weeks later.
When it rains it pours, huh?
Anyway, here’s my quandary. Either I don’t drink coffee on the morning of my talks and just sleep through them, or I do drink coffee and then put up with my heart pounding so violently that eventually it bursts through the chest wall (which I’m thinking might be a distraction).
Your advice, please! My nervous system thanks you.
Ad Jesum per Mariam,
Find the middle ground! When I’ve had to speak in the morning to a group (for work or at our Sacrament retreats), I do have some coffee to help me get going. But unless you are REALLY sensitive to caffeine, there should be a small amount or a half caf/half decaf mix that you can drink without your heart pounding!
Then again, if you are nervous and think your heart will be pounding anyway…have your coffee well ahead of time.
But most importantly, do what you can to relax and relieve your nerves. Think through what you want to say and once it’s in your head, be natural! If you speak the way you blog, you’ll be wonderful!
I have to do meetings for about 110 parents a couple times a year (I coordinate the sacrament prep). I’ve found that I do best by careful review of what I want to say, LOTS of prayer, and then just speaking naturally. I follow only a basic note outline just so I don’t forget a point I want to make. I don’t actually “script” it — I would find that much harder and more distracting.
You’ll be great!
I’ve worked my way down to decaf. Don’t try to do this all at once. But I put less and less “caff” into the mix until it was all decaf. Every once in a while I have “high test” and boy can I feel it! I’m a little sleepier, but it does get better after a while.
Well, how about tea? Black tea has less caffeine than coffee, but it still has a bit. I tend to drink tea in the afternoon for a little bit of a lift, without a jolt.
I recommend “PG Tips” brand. It is a British import that’s a heck of a lot smoother than the brands of tea that are more popular in the U. S. It used to be kind of hard to find, but locally I’ve seen it in some of the better Cub stores (the ones that have an international section). With milk it’s not bitter at all.
Hi Margaret,
I recently found your blog and really enjoy it 🙂
As far as coffee and speaking go…I am a chastity speaker (formerly full time, now on the side). I think people like talks a lot more when the speaker is energetic. So go for it!
Okay I’ve done my fair share of public speaking (chastity talks for teens, usually in the morning) so many times I’d stop and grab a coffee on the way.But it didn’t give me the shakes or anything. If you feel like it’s going to make you, like, nervous and jittery, then I agree that you should just do the half decaf thing. You don’t want your audience thinking you’re on the cusp of a nervous breakdown or anything. You also don’t want to terrify the children.
I’m not a speaker but I’m a (recovery) caffeine addict. Well, okay, I’m back on my way to recovery once again after the holidays. This may be too drastic for you, but my thought would be to very gradually cut down and finally cut out caffeine. Then only have a little now and then.
Does it really make your heart pound? Or did you just think it would do that because of combining it with the speaking? The one time I spoke fairly recently, I had a coke and it didn’t affect me that way…except that caffeine is a diuretic (restroom break).
Just some thoughts for whatever they are worth…or not. 🙂
I had to switch to 1/2 caffiene coffee..and I really haven’t noticed a difference…but I have noticed I’m not sooo jittery…it’s been great!!!
I love the slogan! 🙂
I agree about the middle ground. You don’t want to be sluggish and it’s never good to be in the middle of rehab when you give your first talk.
You’ll be great! Let us know how it goes.
I would think the coffee would be comforting. Somebody asked me a while back if lectoring in front of the whole congregation made me nervous, and I said, no, because I feel called to do it and I think God keeps me steady so I can do His work well. So, if that’s the sort of thing the good Lord wants you to be doing, just say a prayer for a peaceful spirit and the wisdom and grace to say just what it is He wants you to say. Even better, say your prayer over a cup of coffee. 🙂
well i need a caffeine drip in the morning!
Well, I just did my first and only public speaking engagement this past summer. I was soooooo nervous. But I think if I had not had my coffee it would have been worse because then would have been nervous and had a headache.
I’d say I think Elizabeth and Karen have it right. Moderation is likely a good thing.
Not drink coffee? Is that what you said? Why would anyone ever do that to themselves? It’s funny, tea actually makes me more nervous and jumpy. Shrug – who knows?
I agree with the half-caff approach. Or else try a (Diet) Coke, it has only half the caffeine of a cup of coffee.
So tell me where you are speaking, so I can come listen to your wisdom!
When I have spoken in public, I always have prayed to St Anthony, his tongue is incorrupt because of his gift of speaking. Maybe that will help?
I agree with the middle ground and find that before that day comes! it will be lent during that time, if you are cutting down for lent anyway, maybe your body will be ready for it by that time. Not that you should be cutting down or anything, but just in case you are…
Are these talks in the evening? Don’t you drink most of your coffee in the morning, maybe by the evening, it will be ok?
Of course, you will have all of us praying for your talks, let us know the day and we will be storming heaven for you!
I say, go for timing. Don’t do anything drastic and cut it out altogether, for Heaven’s sake!! 🙂
I feel most of the caffeine effect for the first 2 hours after the drink. So if it were me, I’d probably drink the coffee about 2 hours in advance of the talk, and know that the adrenaline will kick in too when the caffeine is wearing off.
Is half a glass of wine out of the question?? 🙂
You express yourself beautifully, Margaret. I know you’ll do wonderfully!
Another recommendation for the middle ground.
When I have to cantor at early morning mass I drink just enough coffee – half a cup or less – to wake me up but not enough to cause my heart to jump out of my chest when it is time to face the congregation.
Ladies, you’ve given me awesome advice and I thank you. I’m thinking my best option is a cup of half-caf (both talks are in the morning) and lots & lots of prayers.
Molly’s right to have mentioned the adrenalin factor. No matter what I do, there’s going to be some heart-pounding at the outset.
Our music director/organist told me that he takes some good, old fashioned asprin before he has to sing (if the cantor isn’t available). He says it slows that racing feeling down and helps a lot with the nerves. Maybe a half-calf coffee and an asprin chaser? Hey, you could just do without the caffeine and the asprin would help with any resulting headache!
Put some Irish cream in your coffee! It always helps me.
I gave up coffee with this current pregnancy. Cold turkey. It was brutal. I can’t recommend it…I pretty much sat on the couch for three days thinking I was surely coming down with the flu or something, but then it passed and I realized it was all caffeine. I miss it…it makes me happy. 🙂 But it does worry me how addictive that stuff is! The good news is that when I have that once in a while cup now…whew! It feels good! lol