It's important to remember that everyone is nervous in stressful situations. It's natural to worry about not doing well, but nerves can help you perform better if you use them positively! Taking a few moments before starting your presentation to take some deep breaths and get centered can do wonders for calming the mind and helping your performance.
Rehearsing ahead of time and believing in yourself will also make it easier when it's go time. With preparation and positive self-talk, any challenge will seem manageable!
It can be hard to deal with physical reactions like nervousness, especially in the middle of a performance. But there are steps you can take to help calm your mind and body when these feelings start to surface. Take some deep breaths — focus on your breathing and feel each breath going in and out of your body. This will help slow the racing thoughts, reduce panic, and give you a clearer picture of what’s happening around you.
Why am I getting nervous so easily and how to deal with it? Practice positive self-talk — acknowledge how hard it is for you but remind yourself that everyone gets nervous or anxious at times (it's normal). Remind yourself that whatever happens onstage or offstage won't have lasting consequences; if something goes wrong, it doesn’t make all your achievements instantly disappear.
Tips to consider to stop being nervous all the time
If you are looking for answers to your question “How do I stop feeling nervous?,” here are some tips to consider:
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Visualize positive outcome
Imagine your performance going well and how that success will make you feel. See yourself talking confidently, connecting with the audience, and conquering potential technical problems. This mental rehearsal can help increase confidence and reduce stress levels immediately before an important presentation. You must go through the tips to cultivate a growth mindset for optimal success and get all the positive outcomes that you can possibly get.
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Develop a sense of humor about yourself.
Stress often causes people to take themselves too seriously — avoid doing that to prevent embarrassment in situations where things don't go as planned or when something unexpected happens that disrupts your speech during delivery. Being able to laugh at yourself (in a non-condescending way), acts as an emotional coping mechanism that helps eliminate some of the fear associated with public speaking engagements!
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Listen to upbeat music.
Pop or rock tunes can get you energized for a performance. Also, check out YouTube — many musicians use it to share their performances, and watching them can be inspiring. Most of all, stay positive! Believe in yourself and your ability to succeed on stage. You boost your confidence by controlling your negative and positive thoughts.
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Instead of letting the butterflies take over, use this time positively
Experts suggest performers find ways to calm down, like taking a walk around the block or stretching. His research has shown that if athletes can reduce their anxiety levels in between performances, they often perform better during competition than those who don't actively manage their stress and adrenaline levels beforehand.
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Set realistic goals
Do not pressure yourself before heading into a performance situation. Break down tasks into smaller steps so you can focus on mastering one step at a time rather than getting overwhelmed by the entire task at once! Finally, learning strategies for dealing with pre-performance jitters will help boost your confidence, so you enter the event feeling more relaxed and ready for success!
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Take some “Me Time”
Others might find it helpful to prepare a visualization of success, take some time before the performance to practice being in a peak state, or read questions they’re likely to be asked so they can create thoughtful and thorough answers.
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Stay hydrated and eat well.
It’s also important to stay hydrated and nourished throughout this process by eating healthy snacks, drinking plenty of water, and getting enough sleep. This will help your body maintain the energy you need for an excellent performance. Doing this all in advance will give you more confidence when you step onto center stage!
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Be confident and believe in yourself.
When you perform the task despite your jitters, you can take pride in knowing that you have conquered any fear and used it to help make success happen instead. Fear is often a sign that we are approaching something outside our comfort zone — so maybe these fears provide us with an opportunity to learn and expand our abilities.
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Relax and breathe deeply.
Take a few moments in the hours leading up to your performance to relax and breathe deeply. The last thing you want to do is treat yourself poorly before a crucial moment in your career, so make sure you give yourself plenty of self-care. Find a quiet place, close your eyes for 10 minutes, or meditate for five minutes if it helps. This will put you back into balance, ready for whatever comes next on stage.
Bottom Line
It’s important to understand that everyone feels some level of nervousness from time to time, so don’t feel embarrassed or ashamed if you experience it. You should be aware that this is just part of the human condition trying to protect and help you.
There are a few ways you can manage your nerves. Deep breathing exercises and taking slow, mindful breaths can help reduce stress levels. Also, visualize yourself succeeding in whatever situation has made you anxious. It may also be helpful to practice positive self-talk and remind yourself that everything will be okay!
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