Quashing Nervousness Before a Presentation

Answer 1

The time has finally come to give that huge presentation you’ve been preparing for months. The nerves have been building up for just as long though, and just won’t disappear - the huge crowd waiting outside isn’t helping either. Follow these tips and tricks to quash your nervousness before the big moment.

Start Speechless

Put your speech aside for a few moments and just think about something else. Fixating on your own nervousness has a tendency to make you more nervous. Try laying on the floor while placing your arms above your head. While inhaling, make sure the diaphragm inflates. Then slowly exhale, releasing all of the tension. Only focus on breathing for a few moments, and only go back to the speech when the stress fades a bit.

Few Notes on Note Card

Pick up a note card and make a small outline of your speech. Sometimes, nervousness comes from feeling like everything written on the note card needs to be said due to its importance. An audience will pick up on the fact that you’re reading word by word on a notecard, and become disengaged and bored. Instead, just outline the speech and think of key points you will be using. Try to keep the audience’s interest by speaking directly to them and maintaining eye contact, only breaking to glance at your notecard for reference points.

Practice Makes Perfect

Now that the speech is outlined, make sure to go over it a few times. Stand in the mirror and look at how the speech is being said or conveyed to others. This is the time to make the speech sound amazing, so practice as much as possible.

Mend it with Music

Practice those deep breaths again, but try listening to calming music at the same time. Music has been known to release serotonin and make individuals feel happy and positive, so throw on whatever makes you feel at calm, whether it’s a baroque masterpiece of a heavy metal guitar riff.

Get Good Sleep

Make sure to get a good night of sleep before the day of the speech. Being well-rested is extremely important for nervousness because it helps calm individuals during intense situations. Sometimes sleep deprivation can make situations more intense, so make sure to get an ample amount of rest.

Healthy and Hydrated

Eat healthy before the presentation. Do not eat too much food, but do not eat too little either. Foods such as bagels and fruits can help. Also, drink a lot of water and try to stay away from caffeine. Water helps keep the body hydrated, while caffeine can increase nervousness due its effects as as stimulant.