7 Quick Tips To Overcome Nervousness

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Everyone gets nervous, but when your nervousness takes away from your ability to complete certain tasks, it is time to get a handle on it. The good news is that even those who are prone to nervousness can tackle it so that they are able to do things like speak publicly or ace their next job interview. These are seven approaches to overcoming nervousness, and you can use one or all of them to get your nervous feelings under control so that you can put your best foot forward.

#1:  Be Prepared

When you are fully prepared for something, you are less likely to get nervous about it. You will have a plan and as long as you stick to it, you will complete your goals without issue. Here are some examples for how to prepare for things that often make people nervous:

A)  If you have a big meeting at work, create an outline of what will be discussed so that you can prepare your answers in advance.

B)  If you are getting ready for a job interview, learn more about the company so that you can ask the right questions and provide the right answers.

C) If you are going on a first date, think about a few topics that are interesting so that the conversation flows well.

#2:  Question the Worst

People often get nervous because they feel that something very bad will happen. For example, when it comes to your job interview, the worst that can happen is that you do not get the job. This will not harm your other job prospects or your career as a whole. In the case of a first date, the worst that can happen is that you and the other person simply do not have good chemistry. Neither of these will make or break you and this is important to remember.

#3:  Visualize the Event

Take some time to relax and visualize yourself on the date, at the meeting or at the interview. Visualize the scenario going very well so that you can essentially get yourself excited in a positive way about it. This helps to take your mind off of the bad things that can happen. It also allows you to go into it in a positive frame of mind.

#4:  Just Breathe

When you are in a situation where you are having those nervous feelings of butterflies in your stomach or a racing heartrate, the key is to calm yourself. You can close your eyes and breathe deeply to calm yourself down and mentally prepare for what you need to do. In fact, just a couple of minutes of deep breathing is enough to help calm you and refocus your mind on the positive aspects of the task at hand.

#5:  Assume a Pre-Existing Rapport

When it comes to going into a situation where you do not know people, it is easy to feel nervous and off your game. However, if you put it in your mind that you already have a solid rapport with these people, you will naturally be more confident and relaxed. Once you start talking to people, the conversation will flow easier and you will find that there was nothing to be nervous about in the first place. This is a good technique for things like job interviews, first dates and social events.

#6:  Stop Excessive Self-Absoarption

When you are nervous, it is easy to think that all eyes are on you and that all of your actions are being scrutinized, but this is not true. People will notice you, but for the most part, they are more concerned about their own actions and how people are responding to them. The key here is to remember that you are just another person in the room and that you belong there.

#7:  Get Yourself Excited

If your nervousness keeps breaking through the surface, take advantage of it and turn it into excitement. For example, if you are very nervous about an upcoming job interview, use this energy to get excited about the company so that you can learn about them. When you use one emotion to feed a more positive one, you will find that your nervousness is no longer controlling you.  

Nervousness is a normal emotion, but if you are prone to nervousness, you know that it can be difficult to handle. Now you have the tools you need to calm down and start feeling more confident in all situations. This ensures that you are able to do everything that you want and need to do without the threat of nervousness distracting you from your goals.

- Rosemary Kitchen

References

Parmenter, J. (2015). Tips for Dealing with Nervousness. Retrieved January 29, 2015 from http://www.indiana.edu/~ucstm/edminute/jparment1.html

Preston, N. (2013). 5 Tips for Reducing Public Speaking Nervousness. Retrieved January 29, 2015 from https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/communication-success/201305/5-tips-reducing-public-speaking-nervousness