Can I work/do a presentation on 3 hours sleep?

[BitBehind]

Feeling panicked and exhausted. Only managed 3 hours sleep last night (body refusing to sleep until 1am and then a child awake from 2 - 4am). I've got an "away day" all day and am presenting to the whole company in 2 hours. I actually feel light headed and weird.

Do I tell my boss? I just feel like that mum who always has a story of illness, no sleep etc and like I never have my shit together

Any positive words of encouragement welcome

How well do you know the material?
I do presentations quite a bit, but they are on similar topics, so I can 'auto pilot'
So- if you know it very well, and you have prepared, and used to doing presentations, I would still do it

With sufficient caffeine, yes. It's not the most fun, but I've taken exams and done presentations on zero sleep, or close. Adrenaline and coffee does the trick and afterwards you crash.

Yeah, you probably can tbh. You might not be at your best, but such is life.

Would you tell the boss? Or is it one of those that noone really cares about your toddlers terrible sleeping patterns and better just to get on with it. I feel like there is always something going on at home (childcare issues, sickness, blah blah) and I just want to be professional but so hard with small 2DC

What would you want from your boss?

Sorry to be harsh, but my experience is that people won't really care.

Aaagh I know this feeing. The exhaustion does pass (and hits again around 7pm). Have a shower/breakfast and coffee (if it doesn't add to the anxiety) and you'll feel the exhaustion slipping away (ok, temporarily but enough to get though the day). Reframe the panic to excitement. You're so excited to be presenting! (It's the only way I manage my nerves). Your company obviously value you and you have something important to say, go for it! You're going to smash it!

What would be the point of telling the boss? Genuine question. I totally understand how a nonsleeping child fucks you up and runs you down, but either you are going to scrape it together and still do the presentation or you're not fit for it and aren't; if you're still going to do it, telling the boss sounds a bit too much like preemptive excuses to me.

I probably wouldn't tell the boss tbh. In my experience ( with 2 bad sleepers, no back up childcare etc) Nobody really cares. And worse, they might be sympathetic to begin with but become irritated very quickly. You have my sympathy, it's a very tricky time. Echo pp suggestions, caffeine and adrenaline, fall face down on the couch afterwards.

You'll be fine once you're up there, adrenalin will get you through. You could mention it in passing but I wouldn't tell your boss with a view to hoping they say ah don't bother then.

All telling the boss is going to do is make them anxious you're going to fuck up.

Caffeine and adrenaline will get you through it.

You can do it. Have caffeine now and then stick to water so you don't get jitters.

Hard to advise when we don't know your boss/company culture.

You could start by introducing yourself to the audience with your role and then saying outside of work I'm raising two small children which it turns out is relentless yet great practice for [dealing with problem customers/some tenuous link to presentation] ha ha.

All the speakers I know who mention having family in that sort of way in presentations, it always adds to their credibility.

But if you work somewhere depressingly old school and already have a reputation for moaning about anything and everything, don't say a word!!

You've got this!

Do NOT tell your boss. It may be true but people will continue to view having kids as an excuse for poor performance and think women are lousy for ever if we still mention kids as a reason for not stepping up.
We do it despite our kids!

Coffee 20 mins before. Breathe deep. You can do it!

Red bull, carbs.

Dont tell your boss. Either commit to doing it, or not.

How are you getting there? My main concern would be if I was safe to drive.

Don't tell your boss.
Lots of coffee and fresh air.
My sister works 3 nights a week at a hospital and looks after her 2 year old the next day after an hours sleep.

Good luck!

I once got up at 4 to catch a flight home to do a presentation at 1 (Via teams). Made a small joke at beginning that I might not be entirely articulate. Also did a job interview once when DD had been awake half the night. Made a small joke about needing coffee at the start and it was fine.

Do the presentation with a large coffee, maybe make a small joke about your child being up remembering your audience are human and many of them will be parents, then get on with it.

I wouldn't go to your boss and bemoan it.... again, so many of us have kids and go to work with barely any sleep so I don't think that tac will go over well.

Good luck!

I remember when I was on mat leave and I did an interview on about 2 hours sleep after a week of no real sleep with a poorly baby - I smashed it. Adrenaline totally gets you through, that and some chocolate (boost bar does what it says on the label!) My DH always says (when I'm fretting about sleep the night before something big) that Olympic athletes often get very little sleep the night before a big race, if they can do it so can you!
You will be fine, big girl pants on, positive attitude, shower, caffeine, chocolate and promise yourself a super early night tonight.

No don't mention it to anyone, before or after.

You just have to crack on with it.

Get some decent food into you, protein (e.g boiled egg, protein shake) and some carbs. It'll stop the light headedness and get you more stable.

Before the presentation, as pp's said, some chocolate for sugar boost and coffee or tea for caffeine. You'll crash later but it'll get you through.

Maybe mention to boss you are nervous/was up early thinking about the presentation. Don't blame the DC, people are right it'll look bad.

I sleep very badly sometimes. Have taught my class of 30 6-year olds on 2 or 3 hours sleep a few times. My body just seems to get on with it, then I feel tired in the evening.

I agree, you’ve had a bit of sleep, have a coffee and smash it. You can collapse later. Don’t tell your boss

You'll be fine. Coffee, food, focus. Adrenaline will get you through - you'll be tired later.

You can do this! Don't tell your boss. Definitely do not tell your boss. I have to do this all the time - I work in finance and have 6 month old baby and a toddler. Have a hot shower and a strong coffee and a decent breakfast. You will feel so much better (until about 4pm when you will crash). Go get 'em!

Your circadian rhythm will kick in soon and make you feel much more awake. Humans can function ok on one poor night’s sleep.

Don’t tell your boss or anyone else and they won’t notice. Have some caffeine by all means but don’t go crazy with it. Eat light, sip water, plenty of fresh air.

I used to have a silly job where I would do all nighters. Adrenaline gets you through but be prepared to pass out asleep later so maybe get childcare in place?