Do you ever get so anxious before a presentation that you feel like you’re going to throw up? Or do you sometimes bail on a presentation entirely and take a zero? Well, I have done both, and there is nothing to be ashamed of.
I grew up a very anxious person and always hated the thought of presenting in front of a class. My eyes would start to water, my legs would shake, and my words would stutter—I’ve been through it all. I took an in-person public speaking class my freshman year at FGCU, and let me tell you, I cried before every class. That’s how much I hated presenting.
So, for all my other anxious people out there, here is my guide to calming your nerves before a presentation. First things first, I am medicated now, so my anxiety isn’t as intense as it used to be. However, here is what I depended on before I was medicated.
My favorite first step is getting into the right mental state. I meditate the day before and the day of my presentation. People often dismiss meditation, claiming it doesn’t really work. For me, it doesn’t work miracles, but it definitely helps calm down my nerves a bit.
One of the most important things to do before a presentation is practice. Suppose you don’t want to rehearse the whole thing, at least practice the first 10 or 20 seconds. It sounds like such a small thing to do, but I promise it will build your confidence when you start strong.
Another way I calm myself is by reminding myself that there is nothing to be afraid of. I can almost guarantee everyone else in that room doesn’t want to present either and is probably just as nervous as you are. Avoid imagining the worst-case scenario—that will only make your anxiety skyrocket. You say a word wrong, who cares? If you stutter a little, who cares? Everyone is focused on themselves, not you.Â
Visualize the room and the process. Imagine walking up to the board, starting your presentation, and finishing it. Your mind will feel less threatened when it already “knows” what to expect. Also, pick out the right outfit. Something as simple as wearing comfortable clothes can boost your confidence so much that the nerves will go away on their own.Â
All my life, I have hated public speaking. I would genuinely rather fail than be in front of my class. Public speaking anxiety is real, and you should know you’re not alone. It’s okay to be nervous before giving a presentation; we all go through it.Â
My semester in public speaking honestly took over my life. All I would think about is getting up in front of the class in a big lecture hall and presenting on a topic no one even cared about.
The strategies I mentioned above helped me get through that class. Even now, they helped me get through my ENC1102 presentation with a 100%. I promise that getting a good grade is worth it, and those nerves will start to fade awayÂ