When asked what activity causes the most stress in a person's life, speaking in front of an audience will often be at the top of the list. Like most pursuits that we choose to devote our time to, being on the platform and speaking in front of an audience is one of those exercises that, with time and practice we can develop a high level of comfort with and find extremely rewarding.
A number of studies have been done around ways that we can deal with stress and how to remain calm when we find ourselves in stressful situations.
Dr. Stuart Brody, a psychologist at the University of Paisley in Scotland has conducted a number of such studies. One of his more recent studies showed that Vitamin C supplements may provide beneficial effects for people under stress. The study results indicated that individuals with high blood levels of ascorbic acid exhibit fewer physical and mental signs of stress when subjected to acute psychological stressors than do subjects with lower levels of vitamin C.
A second study conducted by Professor Brody found that ?hitting a home run? in the bedroom can help keep stress at bay and that nothing is more calming before a speech or presentation.
Experts also agree that deep breathing will relax you before a stressful public speaking engagement and to satisfy an appetite of a different kind you may want to eat a banana or two. Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system. They also deliver a good dose of potassium a mineral that helps normalize the heartbeat and sends oxygen to the brain. When we are stressed, our metabolic rate rises, thereby reducing our potassium levels. These levels can be rebalanced with the help of a high-potassium banana snack.
Coaching is another way to get over your fears and build confidence on the platform. Ivy Naistadt consultant and executive coach has been helping business professionals deliver successful public presentations since 1986. Ivy's book Speak Without Fear addresses How to Reach Your Highest Potential through the Art of Communication.
As an author, speaker and coach Ivy works with executives to improve their platform skills, trains high-profile individuals for video and television appearances and frequently lectures on related topics.
To learn more about Ivy Naistadt and her availability for speaking engagements and coaching visit us on the internet at KeynoteResource.com
Stay Calm And Carry On
Whether you are experiencing one or all of these feelings here are my 5 best tips on reducing the unwanted feelings so that you will feel calm and satisfied with yourself each day.
1. Catch yourself when you exhibit a feeling of behavior that you don't like and change it.
At first you may not notice the feeling until after you have gone through it, that's fine.
Think about how you would rather have felt.
Think about how you would rather have handled yourself.
Decide how you want to do it next time.
As you continue with this process each day you will find that you will notice more easily what you are doing throughout the day.
You will begin to catch yourself earlier and earlier as you do this.
Eventually, you will be seeing yourself while you are doing it, then stop yourself.
At some point you will be able to notice before you even begin to feel and react in the undesirable way.
Here is where you will actually begin to change the way you react to the situations in your life and change your behavior.
2. Stay centered all day by refocusing throughout the day.
Develop the habit of paying attention to your mindset as the day goes on.
Several times a day, step away from what you are doing to get re-centered.
Sit down close your eyes and take several long slow deep breaths while imagining the tension washing slowly out of your body.
Notice your breathing getting slower and calmer.
Just think about your breath.
Try to keep from thinking about anything in particular.
It's OK to not be actively thinking for a while!
3. Watch out for your expectations.
You are setting yourself up for failure, upset and frustration when you set too many standards as to how you think things should be.
Think about what leads you to getting upset?
Why does it set you?
Notice that you decide how many things should be, based on your own outlook and desire.
The things others do that are not to your liking as well as the things you do that don't match your expectations.
Ask yourself, really how important is it that they be exactly that way? Ask, who am I to insist that they are that way?
Does it matter that much?
Is it worth getting myself worked up about?
Choose what expectations are really important for you to hold on to and which ones not too.
Holding on to too many just complicates your life, with constant judgment.
Simplify your life and reduce the stress!
4. Delegate.
This applies to your personal life as well as at work.
Most of us think of delegating as a workplace skill, but it can apply personally as well.
We are all very busy these days with our activities and duties.
Trying to fit it all in and get it all accomplished can lead to tension.
For various reasons, many of us have developed the habit thinking we must do it all ourselves. Take a look at your situation.
Think about it, really, how important is it that everything must be done perfectly to your standards?
Are you sure there are not other people who can assist you?
Are the other people in your life pulling their weight?
Many times we get into habit ruts that don't need to be as they are.
Look at what has been with the eye of reducing the pressure on yourself.
5. Accept other people as one.
As you think of yourself as different and separate from the rest of mankind, you unknowingly create thinking and behavior that separates you from others.
This kind of separate thinking leads us to think we are superior to others, which leads to judgment and selfish thinking and behavior.
We then are having an internal battle with all others, which brings on fear, competition and comparison.
Look to discovering how to see yourself as one with all of mankind, not as separate.
Focus on what we all have in common rather that the relatively small uniqueness.
In conclusion-
Pay attention to what you are involved with, how you perceive things, how you react and what you feel about them.
If you actively seek to make small adjustments in your life to reduce irritation and stress you will find yourself living with more happiness and joy.
Both Yvon Douran & are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Yvon Douran has sinced written about articles on various topics from Business and Finance, Business and Finance and Family. About the author:A desire to creatively express myself in the world is what drives me. A wish to provide a service that is of value to others is at the foundation of my business. Pursuits directly related to improving the quality of life on this planet ar. Yvon Douran's top article generates over 3600 views. to your Favourites.
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