system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
Any advice for managing anxiety leading up to a talk/presentation?

Hey all! Kind of a subjective question, but I was looking to see if anybody else had good methods for managing their anxiety for a talk. It's weird, because I'm always very confident, but still get overloaded with anxiety, usually starting a couple days before the talk (I have one Tuesday morning). I'm confident in my understanding of the material, I generally speak well, and know how to carry myself. But I still can't shake the anxiety. Sometimes it has an affect on my performance, though I'm not sure if anybody notices it except me. I often do well, but manage to not say half of what I had intended. I'm currently preparing my PowerPoint slides, which I rely on for my talk (I don't script anything, and generally just use the information on the slides as sign posts of what to be talking about. I don't read my slides, but provide supplemental information to them). The talk is only about 15 minutes, so I probably only need about 6-8 slides. Well anyways, again, any information, suggestions, tips, etc are welcome! Thanks in advance!
gpt
Rehearsal is key!  Pay special attention to your transitions, because that’s where you’re more likely to stumble because of nerves.

I like to work backwards through a talk:

> conclusion
> transition to conclusion then conclusion
> last idea, transition to conclusion, conclusion
> Etc

So that as the talk progresses, I’m working with material I’m increasingly comfortable with.