Do you experience speechlessness, nausea or vertigo when you’re about to speak publicly? The name of this condition is stage fright. Strangely enough, stage fright does not always involve a fright, in some instances, these feelings can be induced by any form of public speaking. For most people public speaking causes anxiety. If you experience anything more than mild symptoms, you need to deal with it instead of avoiding public speaking engagements. Here are some ways you can deal with stage fright.
Relax
Finding ways to relax can help fend off anxiety. Meditate, listen to music, eat your favorite food, take a walk or do anything that is relaxing will take your mind off what you’re about to do and help you enter a Zen state of mind. In other words, keep your mind entertained so it won’t dwell on your upcoming task.
Practice Makes Perfect
This saying is particularly true if you suffer from stage fright. One of the best ways to get over public speaking is to practice constantly. Once your speech is perfect, practice speaking in small audiences. For example, start with your family or a group of friends. You can gradually increase the number of people you’re practicing on as the big day arrives. Constant practice can help increase your self confidence and give you time to correct any flaws in your speech or presentation.
Eat and Live Healthy
Eat lots of fruits, practice yoga or meditation, take up a hobby or exercise and play sports. Living a healthy lifestyle will help improve your self esteem. When you do activities like exercise or yoga, you are surrounded with other people and are encouraged to socialize. Eating a healthy diet will help you keep in shape which boosts self confidence. Before a public speaking engagement, avoid caffeine and sweets which can up anxiety levels.
Accept Your Fears
One of the first steps to overcoming stage fright is to admit that you have stage fright. Once you have accepted it, you can begin to find ways to control this fear. This will help you find ways to deal with your problem instead of hiding from it. Confronting and accepting your fears will help you become confident, even if it’s just for a few minutes.
It’s Not About You
PowerPoint presentation coaches say that the presentation is not about you or the slides, so focus on the task at hand. Seinfeld actor Jason Alexander got over stage fright by making a story of the important things instead of thinking about his problems. He realized that he and his fellow actors were on stage to tell a story. They are there for the show and experience. Thinking about this helped him get over stage fright and perform better.
Finding ways to avoid performing or public speaking will only aggravate the situation. It is always better to confront stage fright than hide from it. If actors can get over stage fright, so can you.
