How can you calm your nerves

Researchers believe listening to calming music folk, contemporary, classical, and lullaby is distracting enough to help patients get through the nerve-racking experience of going through a medical procedure.

This technique works by cooling down your arteries, which refreshes your entire body. You can also splash cold water behind your ear lobes for a similar effect. Participate in Brain Games Research published in Nature America discovered brain games, such as crossword puzzles, are effective in calming people down because they require concentration, which distracts us from our internal anxieties and stressor.

Stop and Smell the Citrus Did you know the scent of citrus is actually relaxing? But, how can you do that when all of your worries comes rushing back? Barbara Brody suggests in Woman's Day before bedtime you spend about an hour decompressing by watching TV, drinking tea, exercising, or taking a hot shower.

About the Author. John Rampton. You're less likely to freeze up if you're well prepared. Rehearse as much as you can and practice — alone or in front of others — at every opportunity. Practice until you feel relaxed and ready. Nothing calms nerves like the confidence that comes from knowing you're prepared.

Psych yourself up. Instead of dwelling on what could go wrong, rev up some positive energy. Watch a football team before they run onto the field. They get in a group and pray or sing a team song to pump themselves up with positive energy and team spirit. You know you want to. Losing yourself in the beat can help you shake stress off. Plus, dancing gets the blood flowing for a reenergizing rush of oxygen. Number 10 across: Anxious, overwhelmed, or freaked out seven letters. Keep a fresh jar of your favorite variety near your workspace or in the living room, and take a whiff whenever stress strikes.

It takes just a minute to drip some lavender, frankincense, or another essential oil into a diffuser. Or, mix a few drops into your favorite carrier oil such as jojoba , rub into your hands, and inhale.

The soothing scents may help send stress and anxiety packing by stimulating receptors in the nose that connect to the part of the brain that regulates emotions. Head for the crisper. The odor of sweet orange can help decrease symptoms of anxiety and improve mood, research shows Dosoky NS, et al. Biological activities and safety of citrus spp. Take your time and peel a nice juicy one for a dose of calm.

Wake up and smell the cortado or head to the break room to get your bean on. Just the odor of coffee can make you feel better — not to mention the caffeine. Schedule some immediate hang time with your four-legged bestie.

Pets can boost self-esteem and even ease the sting of social rejection. Cue up some YouTube videos. Nothing busts a bad mood quite as well as the giggles. Even science says laughter is the best medicine.

But you can see for yourself. Get a load of these fitness-obsessed felines for a few chuckles. Talking out your feelings with a ride-or-die friend can put your mind at ease and let you know someone genuinely cares. Crashing waves, warm sand, a gentle breeze ruffling your hair.

Well, at least the image is nice. Take a break from work and browse for vacation spots. Part of the fun is planning the trip, anyway. So be sure to schedule longer respites too when you can.

Snag 30 minutes at the gym or a grab brunch with your BFFs, whatever gets you to the right level of chill. If stress is getting the best of you, try these six simple exercises to calm the heck down and refocus. Research shows that our collective anxiety is at an all-time high. Luckily, there are a plethora of ways to press pause on panic mode.

Ready, set.. If you have achy, tight shoulders or upper-body tension, try these simple exercises for blissful relief in your shoulders, back, and neck.

When we get unfocused, our mind and body tend to move a million miles a minute. Here are some visualization techniques to coax your brain back into…. Here are a few other ways you can help calm your nerves by tuning into your body:. Good preparation can help ease the nerves. Try to allot time for organizing your thoughts, determining the best flow, and drafting your talking points. Be mindful of the ratio of time spent preparing slides and preparing what you are going to say; most of us spend way too much time on slides.

Practicing flow and transitions can also be helpful but be careful of becoming overly scripted. The most important thing you can do is prepare and practice the opening of your presentation, which will set the stage for everything that follows.

Start by saying something positive or unexpected to set the tone. Levine describes an executive she coached who was nervous about preparing for a series of intranet videos for employees. For example:. Accepting and calming your nerves before a presentation is part of sound preparation, but what can you do during the presentation itself if you still feel discomfort, doubt, or unease? The audience expects you to be good and to succeed.