[Zen888]

Hello everyone

I have to do a powerpoint presentation Tuesday morning! I am so so nervous. And after that I have a quiz!

Any suggestions on how to calm my nerves?

Zen888

[cantstopcrying]

Calming music, lavendar spray or candles, positive talk and chocolate.

[e_sort]

rehearse it a lot. i know it sounds stupid and obvious but the more you can go into "automatic mode" the less you even have to worry about freaking out during the talk.

of course this is an OCD point of view

also whenever i have to give a presentation, i usually write down every word i plan to say, literally. not notes, like the actual speech. then i practice reading it out loud until it sounds like I am not reading but just talking. i don't usually end up reading the exact text but it's close, and it's comforting to know it's there and I can read it if I have to.

it's a lot of work to do that though. for me it's kind of necessary because i freeze up or get all garbled.

[cantstopcrying]

Originally Posted by e_sort

also whenever i have to give a presentation, i usually write down every word i plan to say, literally. not notes, like the actual speech. then i practice reading it out loud until it sounds like I am not reading but just talking. i don't usually end up reading the exact text but it's close, and it's comforting to know it's there and I can read it if I have to.

it's a lot of work to do that though. for me it's kind of necessary because i freeze up or get all garbled.

See, I can't do that because if I do happen to deviate from the text I wrote and rehearsed, I stumble and freeze and panic. I tried that with my first speech and it was horrible. It's that OCD/perfectionist thing in me that said it had to be exactly as written. After that, I wrote "talking points" and rehearsed over and over and over and because each rehearsal was a little different, I was ok with it varying a bit when I gave it. Isn't it funny how we all do the same things so differently

[RhubarbDali]

I can relate to how you are feeling, even though i have to do them fairly often as part of my course i still get extremely anxious.

what i have found to help is to have a nice relaxing bath before bed and having an early night. Going to bed thinking about it and staying up late wont get rid of the anxiety but perhaps worsen it.

any friends that you can talk to about the presentation? perhaps rehearse with them?

Hope it goes well

Jane x

[e_sort]

Originally Posted by cantstopcrying

See, I can't do that because if I do happen to deviate from the text I wrote and rehearsed, I stumble and freeze and panic. I tried that with my first speech and it was horrible. It's that OCD/perfectionist thing in me that said it had to be exactly as written. After that, I wrote "talking points" and rehearsed over and over and over and because each rehearsal was a little different, I was ok with it varying a bit when I gave it. Isn't it funny how we all do the same things so differently

That's really interesting. Ah the varied and fascinating world of OCD!

I was just trying to think why I don't feel that way about being perfect with the exact text. I guess for me I think that sounding natural is the goal, not reading, so the perfectionist part is necessarily to not be exact but to be convincing.

But I'm not really a perfectionist, just completely, completely unable to speak off the cuff. Rehearsal is a thing for me. So much so that I rehearse after the fact. That'd be the "C".

[wayward muse]

My trick is i focus on the people in the class i know. This is a new trick cuz i used to be very antisocial and wouldn't talk to anyone. If you're like how i was, then this won't help you much, sorry. But if you know people focus on them. It's like you're just talking to them in a group, like you do outside of class. And the other people are their friends who you just haven't been introduced to yet, but it doesn't matter, cuz you'll be introduced later. If you can get into that mindset, that helps. Also, at least 95% of those people are very sympathetic to the fact that you're nervous. You can do it!

[multipixie9]

When I speak to an audience I pray and ask God for help. Then if I am talking to the group, not just doing a powerpoint I choose someone in the audience and talk to that person. I allow myself to feel friendly toward them like I am explaining it to them alone. I also may ask friends to pray for me to do well. So, I would like to do that for you. I will pray for you to be as calm and settled as you can be and for the presentation to go well. I am sure you can do this and do it well. Please come back and tell us how it goes for you; I do care how you do.

leslie and her pixies! -->Zen88 (u go girl!)

[Fuzzybear]

(((((((((((((((((( Zen888 )))))))))))))))))))

[Zen888]

100% on my powerpoint presentation!!

[silver_moon]

GO ZEN!!!!!!!!! YAY... PARTY TIME!!!!

[Zen888]

Thanks Rabbit Lady! Love the dancing lemons!

[mlpHolmes]

Dear Zen,

CONGRATULATIONS!!

You have done so well in many your presentations & tests this semester!

Keep your successes alive for future projects!