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Stay Connected to Reduce Your Fear of Public Speaking

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puzzleAn important part of public speaking is interacting with your audience. Many people focus only on the writing of the speech, but fail to consider the delivery. One very important part of delivering your speech is your one on one connection with your audience. By practicing connecting to audience members you can help remove your fear of public speaking.

Much of the fear comes from the unknown, and not knowing everyone in your audience can bring up some stress or fear. To help overcome this, practice giving your speech in front of friends, family or co-workers and getting a positive response. The more times you practice initially the easier it will be to give your speech when the real day comes.

Practice connecting to one individual at a time. Some people feel uncomfortable with giving eye contact directly to those in the audience, but the more you practice looking someone in the eye, the easier it becomes. Even if you are far away from them, the audience will feel that personal connection, and will continue to pay attention. Make sure you do not just look at the front row but speak to all of the rows of people, even those in the back.

Anyone who may be focused on too much can feel on the spot, but saying a few sentences to each person can make the whole audience part of the experience. Here are a few other things to consider when you are giving your speech.

Interruptions can happen during any speech. There could be crying babies, movement in and out of the room, or cell phones that may go off. Preparing for any interruptions that may occur can remove this stress. Do not stop your talk for any reason. By acting unphased by these possible distractions, your audience will remain focused on the speech as well.

Also, be aware of your body language. It’s easy when nervous to have a stiff body or awkward gestures. Practice saying your speech in front of a mirror so that you can see what gestures you normally do, and how you can make your body look even more relaxed the whole time you are delivering your speech.

When it comes to the day of the speech, remember to stick to the flow of your speech and it will all go smoothly. Do your best to stay in the moment at all times. Do not get lost in your thoughts or in any worries you might have. Focus on your points, and sticking to your script, and your speech will be a success.

Begin the Day with Mindfulness Meditation to Calm Stress at Work

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The work climate is sometimes a difficult one, and many people may find it hard to cope with the pressure of dealing with stress while at their job. It makes sense. Most people spend the majority of their day at their job, and the stressors of co-workers, bosses, and  looming projects and deadlines sometimes contribute to a difficult working environment.

It’s easy for a small issue at work to become a larger one very quickly, and if you don’t take time to deal with stress at work as it comes, you might find yourself feeling the pressure. While dealing with stress at work may seem like an insurmountable obstacle, it is one that can be easily overcome simply by adding a few  simple steps to your day.

In the morning, when you wake up, think about your morning routine. Is there any time for you to stop and give thanks for the blessings you already have in your life? Most people jump from task to task to task throughout their day, and never have even ten minutes to stop and think about things they can be grateful for. Stopping and taking some time to ruminate and give thanks is called Mindfullness Meditation.

Simply reminding yourself of the good things will help you not focus your energy and attention on the negative aspects. Take ten minutes every morning to practice Mindfullness Meditation, and you will quickly see the benefit this practice can have on  your day to day life.

You need to make it your goal to not sweat the little things. When confronted with a difficult or stressful situation while at your job, take time to think before you react. Think back to your morning practice of Mindfulness Meditation. By channeling the positive energy you brought with you from the morning, you will be able to deflate some of the mounting frustrations that may arise while on the job.

Remember that everyone deals with their own stressors in different ways, and sometimes their reactions may have nothing do with you. Mindfulness Meditation can be a good addition to your morning routine and can help you when dealing with stress at work.

Five Important Ways to Deal with Stress in the New Year

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Are you feeling like stress has taken over your life? Do you have too much on your plate or too many tasks that need completing?  Does it  sometimes seem a bit overwhelming? Relax! There are many easy and simple ways to deal with stress.

Here are five ways you can banish overwhelming stress from your life! The first thing you need to do is take a look at your surroundings. Many people find that they have unknowingly surrounded themselves with people or things that bring added stress to their lives without even knowing it!

If you have a friend whose life problems are always bringing you down, or a family member that places too many burdens on you on a regular basis, your first action may be to limit your interactions with them. Instead choose to surround yourself with other people who bring positive energy to the table!

Next, remember to be mindful at all times. Take some time every day to check in with yourself about the great things that are going to happen during the upcoming day and to be thankful for the blessings you do have in your life. In such a fast paced world it’s easy to focus on things that might weigh on us or bring us down. It is sometimes an after thought to focus on the things that may bring us up.

Your next challenge while dealing with stress is to stop your judgment of others (and yourself.) By judging other people we simply bring harsh words and negativity into our environment, which does not do any good for anyone!

Next up is a tough one for many. It is important to learn how to say no. For the “people-pleasers” out there, this is one written especially for you. When you are in a situation where someone is trying to have you take on more then you believe you can handle – summon up your courage and say “no” to them. You’ll find that this becomes easier the more you practice this skill. Many people will respect you more if you graciously decline to take something on, rather than taking on more than you can chew at the present moment.

The last item on the short list of how to deal with stress, is to make sure to have a time and a space just for you. Find a comfy chair or a sunlit porch or a park where you can relax. Take the time to breathe and allow your body to relax. Many people practice meditation, listen to music that relaxes them, or practice deep breathing for 20 minutes at a time.

Once you begin taking some time for yourself every day, you will find a reduction in your stress levels almost immediately! If you begin these daily steps to deal with stress, you will find yourself on your way to a better, more relaxing daily life.

The Holidays are Here: Tips to Deal with Stress

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Lets face it. The holidays are stressful. No matter how you prepare, or how much time and energy you put into readying yourself for the holidays, many holidays will end up being a bit tough for everyone. However, there are many ways you can deal with stress head on during the holiday season!

Many people expect that the holidays have to be perfect, they may run themselves ragged day in and day out trying to create the spot on holiday experience. The first thing to realize is that your holiday does not have to be perfect.

Confronting your ideas about holiday perfection is a great way to begin the process of dealing with holiday stress.  If you and your family are already feeling stressed out by the holiday season, there are a few things you can do to reduce that level of stress and make your holiday season a happier one.

The first thing you can do when dealing with stress around the holidays is to prepare for the situation you might be entering into. If you have known stressors during this season, huge meals to plan, or family members visiting that cause you negativity, take some time to relax. Make sure that in the midst of the hustle and bustle you get to take some “you” time.

If some holiday event does not go as planned, know that it is OK. There is no use getting frustrated with yourself during the holiday season.

Many people create undue stress for themselves when planning gifts for others. Remind yourself that whatever you give will be perfect. For most people, just the thought that someone is thinking about them enough to give them something is what really matters.

To deal with stress of the holidays, you must prepare yourself. There are many built in stressors lurking out there, like extra food and drinks, or not enough sleep. Know that this time, like many other difficult times of the year, you need to make sure to give your body what it needs.

Make sure to eat healthy when you can, which will allow you to enjoy holiday meals with family. Make sure to exercise regularly, which is known to reduce your stress levels dramatically. Make sure you are sleeping enough every night. Practice saying “no” when you have over extended yourself.

Yes, the holidays can be trying times, but times that will be filled with love, happiness and fun. Just double check that you deal with stress before it gets the better of you, and you will be well on your way to a happy holiday season!