Conquering Brain Freeze.

Regardless of how much a speaker practices, they can still experience brain freeze. This stage-fright effect occurs when our brain and tongue are running at different speeds. Many people, when faced with brain freeze, panic and try to fill the air with words. This usually makes the situation worse.

The quickest way to melt a brain freeze is to pause and take a breath. Most often, this simple act is enough to unglue the brain.

If you still feel derailed, try one of these tips to buy yourself time. 

  • Take a mouthful of water. It’ll force you to stop and breathe.
  • Throw a question to one of your listeners.
  • Repeat the last point you said.

Use the time to organize your thoughts, and then you will be able to return to your presentation.