How To Calm Down When Nervous In 3 Simple Steps
By Michael Lee

About to make a speech in front of the whole class? Going to see your girlfriend's parents for the first time? Taking a very important scholarship exam? These are just some of the situations wherein knowing how to calm down when nervous becomes a matter of supreme importance.

Feeling nervous is a perfectly natural feeling. Granted, it's not at all pleasant. After all, you don't really want to suffer from mental block or to faint in front of a live audience, do you? Luckily, there are ways on how to calm down when nervous. Check out the 3 steps below and see if they can stop your anxiety.

Step # 1: Breathe In, Breathe Out.

As ridiculous as it seems, people tend to forget how to breathe when they're feeling nervous. Sure they still take shallow gasps of breath, enough to keep them from turning blue, but not enough to prevent their body from going haywire.

Breathing evenly helps your body adjust to the situation. Focusing on your breathing also distracts your mind from conjuring up all sorts of nervous-inciting scenarios.

A lot of people actually practice meditation in order to calm themselves down. And breathing exercises are definitely a staple when it comes to meditation.

Step # 2: Think About the Aftermath.

Sometimes, we work ourselves up for nothing. Five minutes before your speech and your stomach still can't stop making cartwheels. But a second after you deliver your speech, you feel an immense feeling of relief washing over you.

One way on how to calm down when nervous is by focusing on that feeling. You know what that feels like, right? To have gotten everything over and done with. Mimic that feeling and you'll find yourself in a zen mood even as you step up to the podium.

Step # 3: Give Yourself an Extra Boost of Confidence.

Pep talks do wonders for a nervous person. Before you do whatever it is you're about to do, tell yourself how brilliant you are. Tell yourself how confident you are in yourself. Let your ego balloon up to the size of an elephant. This way, you'll realize that you have nothing to fear.

Even if it's not true, you can at least trick yourself into believing all of what you say. In the long run, you'll eventually become all of these things and you won't have to fake it anymore.

Knowing how to calm down when nervous is very important. Hopefully, you can apply these steps whenever you need to stay cool and confident.