No matter how skilled or talented a person is, they must have to overcome their nervousness and perform when it matters because the world judges you on the basis of your results and not your attempt. Following are the steps which may help you overcome nervousness.
Deep breathing
Breathing deeply is one of the best ways to calm yourself down when you are very nervous or stressed. It sends the oxygen into the brain and allows you to think properly and reasonably. Our body automatically triggers fast breathing whenever we are in an emergency, deep breathing, which is exactly opposite to it, has a soothing effect on us and releases tension. It is a very process and will not be noticed by the audience as compared to some other ways of reducing nervousness which actually make it very clear to onlookers that the person is very nervous.
Walking
It has been scientifically proven than when we walk, our body produces endorphins which make us happy. Walking helps wit nervousness as it helps you get your bearings set and also provides you some time to plan your next move. Walking also distracts the audience and removes you from their glare and gives you some respite. It flows blood into your brain and allows you to think faster and clearer than while your were standing.
Keep motivating yourself
One of the easiest ways of reducing your nervousness is to motivate yourself. Talk encouragingly to yourself and reminding yourself about your own past achievements will help in bringing down the nervousness. Keep telling yourself that it is all going right and just the way you want it to go to avoid getting nervous and hence making mistakes. Avoid listening to people who may criticize you and have faith in yourself, do not get carried away also and maintain a steady head. Making an eye contact with people who may distract you is inadvisable and should be avoided because it makes you lose track of things.
Get familiar to the situation
When you know that you have to do something in near future where you will get nervous, be it a performance or a speech, prepare yourself beforehand. Get familiar with the situation and scenario that you will face on that particular day so that you arenât overwhelmed by it. If you are preparing for a speech, it is important to know the size of the audience, their age groups and gender. Do your research thoroughly so that nothing can surprise you. Plan according to the situation and it will be very helpful to you if you can learn from other people’s experience of the same situation. Talk to people who have been through it and try not to make the same mistakes as they did.
Be dressed properly
Always have all the accessories and gear ready with you that may help you in your task. However insignificant they might be, always keep them with you because you may get nervous when you find that your competitor has them. If you forget something for example a document, page or sports gear, it plays on your mind and distracts you from your goal. You will not be able to concentrate properly on you task at hand and hence need to make sure these things are taken care of. Being dressed properly also gives you confidence and you are not worried about making a fool of yourself and it also shows your seriousness towards the occasion. People are bound to take you more seriously if your show this sort of serious attitude towards your work.
Meditation
Meditation helps in relaxation of mind and fills your body with a positive energy. It is always important to have a stable mind before attempting anything, so that you can use all your concentration in one particular direction. A wandering mind will lead you nowhere and cause you distress and amplify your nervousness. Meditation is a way of improving your concentration, which will certainly be a boost to your performance.
Accept your nervousness
Contrary to what many people think, being nervous is not bad nor is it a sign of weakness. You can perform well when you are nervous because then you do not take it casually. You give your task importance, it stays in your mind always and becomes your priority. Accept that because you are not sure how well you will manage to do, you are nervous and that there is nothing wrong with it. A little bit of nervousness is actually beneficial for you if it is countered well.
