We all have encountered nervousness at some point but have we ever thought about successfully combating it? The typical answer would be No! That inner voice that alarms you that you are just not good enough or not well prepared tends to reduce our thought confidence, limiting us from fully exploring potential opportunities.
Getting that fluttering nervous stomach feeling before a big event can feel like a combination of anxiety and excitement, all at once. From getting your palms all sweaty to an increase in the heart rate, nervousness grounds you in different ways during the pre-performance phase in students.
Nervousness vs. Anxiety
It is essential to understand that nervousness and anxiety are not the same. At the same time, nervousness is just a natural response of the body with a temporary span that fades away as the event finishes. On the other hand, anxiety is a psychotic disorder. Anxiety disorders are long-termed and extremely difficult to treat. Note that nervousness is a common symptom of anxiety. But they are not the same.
Why do students feel Nervous before a performance?
Any experience, positive or negative that provokes feelings of apprehension or fear can ignite nervousness in an individual. Attending a funeral, giving your first speech, or before the first date, at some point in time, everyone experiences this sharp feeling of nervousness. Whenever the body identifies a threat, it starts to prepare to fight or flee it by boosting the production level of adrenaline in your body. As a result, your heart starts to beat faster, and your blood pressure rises.
So now, let’s discuss why nervousness is so dominant in students before a performance. With an increase in social exposure and rapid growth in the education sector, not all students have adapted to the pace. In a world full of fake social media profiles, the ambiguity levels have increased, resulting in students considering every option as a possible threat rather than a potential opportunity. This basic instinct of identifying external sources as a threat automatically alarms the body and creates nervousness.
Signs of Nervousness
To combat the nerves that make you feel nervous and constrain you from fully exploring all opportunities, you must first understand what signs of nervousness you exude. It is important to note here that every person experiences different symptoms while you show signs and the other person does not. Therefore, it doesn’t necessarily mean that they are not feeling nervous. Remember, the more aware you are of the signs, the easier it is to control them.
Pacing
When the adrenaline level shoots up in the body, the system starts to find ways to escape and release the built-up adrenaline from your body. One of the ways is pacing in a room. If you find yourself constantly walking around just to calm your nerves during a presentation, then it is your first sign of feeling nervous.
Leaning
You must have heard body language experts explain how composed and confident individuals have a firm and relaxed body posture. For a person with nervousness, it’s the exact opposite. Instead of remaining calm, they might excessively lean towards one position or another.
Cracking knuckles
As a child, most people tend to find the cracking noise of knuckles amusing but may find it somewhat surprising that it shows a feeling nervous. While this can evolve as a habit, it is essential to realize soon why you often find yourself cracking knuckles.
Biting nails
A highly noticeable sign of nervousness is the act of picking or biting your nails. While most people confuse and term it a habit, it is just another sign to keep an eye out for nervousness.
Avoiding eye contact
It’s common knowledge that when people feel confident in what they are saying or doing, they will maintain 70-80% eye contact. For someone uncomfortable, research shows they cannot even preserve 40% eye contact that puts their information held accountable.
Quivering voice
When the body language fails to explain the signs, the voice comes into play. People feeling nervous often have a quivering voice. You might find yourself filling spaces in sentences with um and like due to a rapid increase in the pace of talking.
Sweating
One of the most prominent signs of a person experiencing nervousness is excessive sweating, especially on the palms. While moderate sweat levels are considered mild symptoms of nervousness, an excessive amount of sweat needs to be dealt with professional help.
Overcoming Nervousness
After successfully identifying which signs of nervousness you exude, it is essential to learn how to deal with them. Practicing the activity before the performance is the most crucial technique is used by people. For instance, if you find it difficult to give a speech, first identify which signs alert you towards nervousness during your address. If you identify pacing, practice in front of a mirror and try to control yourself.
Combating these nerves is all about getting into a more relaxed personal space, and the only way to deal with it is through constant practice. The second most helpful technique can be through utilizing and acknowledging your strengths. Know your credibility; know that you are in there for a reason. If you can’t trust your judgment about what makes you essential, trust the instinct of the professionals who have tasked you with the job.
Lastly, breathe your way through it. It’s common to hyperventilate before a big presentation. Before any big task, remember to take deep breaths and trust that instinct that shouts, “you can do this.”
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