Successful Presentations 1.6: Dealing with Nerves

Key wellness + self-care strategies for dealing with nerves when presenting

• Reframe nerves as helpful: Nerves can be a positive energy—keeping you alert and energized rather than automatically “bad.”
• Prepare to reduce nervousness:
  • Use the kind of good preparation described earlier to lower anxiety.
• Personalize calming strategies (find what works for you):
  • Some people prefer a quiet place away from others.
  • Others benefit from talking/listening to reduce tension.
  • Try calming music.
  • Wear a particular confident item of clothing that helps you feel ready.
• Use movement to regulate the body:
  • Exercise (e.g., short walks, stretching) helps by:
    • encouraging deeper breathing
    • reducing heart rate
    • helping you feel less anxious
• Shift mindset from self to purpose:
  • Recognize the value of what you’re presenting.
  • Remind yourself why it matters and what you want the audience to take away.
  • Presenters who genuinely believe in the message tend to feel less nervous because they focus on communicating, not on themselves.
• Core takeaway:

  The presentation “isn’t about you”—it’s about your audience.

Presenters / sources

• No specific presenter or source is named in the provided subtitles.