Performance anxiety can be a tough obstacle to overcome. It can trigger negative thoughts, a racing heart, and sweating palms. It can make you feel disconnected from the task and reduce your confidence. Understandably, you might experience some stress when you’re about to perform in front of others for the first time.
This is something new and different from what you’ve been used to, so it may feel unfamiliar or uncomfortable in some way. Some people even say that performance anxiety is normal (which is not true, by the way).
Performance anxiety can also manifest indirectly, like slowing down your movements, hesitating before speaking or avoiding eye contact with other people. No matter how it comes up, there are some things that we can do to conquer our fears and build self-confidence.
Start by thinking positively
The first thing that you can do if you’re experiencing performance anxiety is to think positively. Positive thinking is about focusing on the bright side of things! It’s about looking at a situation from a different perspective so that it becomes less threatening. As humans, we’re naturally drawn to what’s positive. It gives us energy and keeps us going. It can also help you separate the ‘what is’ from the ‘what might be.’
This will help you take everything one step at a time and think clearly. When you’re anxious, you tend to get stuck on what might be wrong. When you’re positive, you see things as they are and focus on what you can control.
Take note of your physical cues.
Performance anxiety often comes up because you’re not yet used to being in front of other people. This might mean that you’re constantly worrying about how you’re standing or walking. Or it could mean that you’re obsessing about what you’re wearing or how you look. While you can’t control these things, you can control how you react to them. Take a few moments to notice your body language and how you’re standing and walking.
Are you subconsciously walking too slowly? Are you walking with your shoulders hunched? Are you keeping your head down? These are all physical cues of performance anxiety, and you can control how you react to them.
Take advantage of practicing
There’s a lot to say about practicing, but it’s one of the most important things you can do to build confidence and overcome performance anxiety. Practicing is something that you do as you prepare for a performance or performance environment. This could be anything from doing a warm-up to practicing your speech or song repeatedly. There are a few reasons why practicing is so important. The first reason is that it teaches you to be comfortable in your skin. You’re going to be in your own body, and that’s always a little nerve-wracking.
You want to ensure that you’re comfortable in your skin so that you don’t have to worry about what you look like or how you feel about yourself. The second reason why practicing is so important is because it builds your confidence. When you’re practicing in front of a mirror, you can watch yourself and see what you’re doing wrong and what you’re doing right. When you do it over and over again, it becomes more natural and easier.
Practice positive self-talk
Nobody is perfect, especially when performing in front of an audience. You’re going to make mistakes, and you’re going to forget a line or two. This is all part of the game. The best thing that you can do to build confidence and overcome performance anxiety is to believe in yourself and your abilities. When you’re practicing, repeat positive affirmations in your head. You can say things like “I am confident” or “I can do this.” This will help you focus on what you want to do and how great you are.
You want to find ways to turn those negative self-talk into positive self-talk.
Find an exercise to energize you before the show starts
There’s nothing more energizing than to begin a performance with a high-energy workout. It will help you focus on the task and get your blood pumping. You can do this in many ways, from dancing to running. You want to find an exercise that gets your heart racing so that you’ve got a physical reminder that you’re about to perform.
You can also try to find a workout that helps you move your body. Some people find that running helps to reduce performance anxiety because it helps to get you moving and puts you in a different state of mind.
Conclusion
Performance anxiety can affect anyone at any time. Feeling a little nervous or even scared when you’re about to perform in front of others is normal, but it’s important to remember that you’re not alone. The best thing that you can do is to talk to someone about your fears. This could be a friend, family member, coach, or therapist. Talking about your fears and opening up about them is one of the best things you can do to overcome them.
There are also many ways that you can overcome performance anxiety. By relaxing before a performance or performing an activity that gets your blood pumping, you can decrease your anxiety and focus on the task at hand.