Anybody know any relaxation techniques?

TheBlueRaja · 27-09-2004, 19:57

I've got a pretty big presentation to do next week, and to make matters worse its my first one.

So im flapping a bit - and wondered if anybody knew any good techniques for controlling yourself and relaxing.

I would REALLY appreiate it..

altis · 27-09-2004, 20:02

Crash course in Alexander Technique?

27-09-2004, 20:04

Well I usually have a cig but I wouldn't start if I were you.

Have you tried going for a run? That also tends to help me a lot. Endorphins galore.

TheBlueRaja · 27-09-2004, 20:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by altis

Crash course in Alexander Technique?

Hmm,
Not quite sure thats what the Alexander Technique is intended for to be honest from what i can see.

But going for a run sounds like a good idea - however im going to be in the middle of London, in an area i will be unfamiliar with so i dont think that would help.

27-09-2004, 20:35

imo, with this kind of thing, there is no substitute for confidence. If you know you have the show down to a 't', you won't be so nervous

- but if you still get butterflies, I reckon you can't beat the 'take a deep breath & let it out slowly' technique

Scrubbs · 27-09-2004, 20:43

nip to the shops and get a cheap book on yoga or tai chi ....they always have breathing techniques in them absalutley magic for calming you down without anyone realise you are doing it.
I have been doing tai chi for years and found the breathing exercises very beneficial .
A note of caution .....practice deep breathing BEFORE you need it cos when you first start it might make you dizzy

Ramrod · 27-09-2004, 21:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by theblueraja

Hmm,
Not quite sure thats what the Alexander Technique is intended for to be honest from what i can see.

It's a method of improving your posture. Not much good for relaxation.....

MetaWraith · 27-09-2004, 21:07

give the presentation to a colleague, ask them to critique it.

MetaWraith · 27-09-2004, 21:15

Know you material, forward, backwards, upside down and sideways.
Make up a list of probably questions and answers to them.
Practise saying them. That way you wont go umm errr.

altis · 27-09-2004, 21:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ramrod

It's a method of improving your posture. Not much good for relaxation.....

I beg to differ there.

Taken from the Society of Techers of Alexander Technique website at:
http://www.stat.org.uk/

Quote:

Using the Alexander Technique you can become ...
* alert
* balanced
* relaxed
* focused
* effective
* confident

Sounds ideal to me.

idi banashapan · 27-09-2004, 21:20

A bit more than relaxation, but the following will really help. I've used these techniques on numerous occassions....

As already mentioned, ensure you know your subject backwards. That is probably most important of all. No matter what happens then, you will be able to pick up where you left off without a hitch.

when presenting, take your time. Get yourself a drink of water before you start and keep it nearby. If you feel like you are drying up a bit, just take a sip. Don't rush anything. It may feel like you are talking slow when you are nervous, when infact, you are whizzing through the topics.

At the beginning of the presentation, inform your audience that you will take questions at the end. This will help you keep the flow. If you feel like a break, offer that the group can take a 5 minute breather and return with coffee. This will help them keep their consentration and you to regroup if you feel a little lost at some stage. Remember that YOU are in control of the situation. If an audience member starts to sidetrack you, explain that you can cover their question later in the presentation. Also, don't worry if you don't know the answer to something they pose to you. Ask to take their email address and promise to find out for them, emailing them the details within the next day.

You could use leaders at the bottom of slides to help you remember what slide comes next. For example, if your next slide was about the reasons why the audience should buy your product, at the bottom of the preceeding slide, have the question, 'How could you / your company benefit from this product?'

If you are presenting a slide show of sorts, do not over crowd it with too much literacy. Only use bullet points when presenting. This stops you reading everything monotonously. It also means you will not need to compete with your audience reading the screen at different paces and becoming bored of you reading what they finished 20 seconds ago. You can then have more info on flash cards that YOU hold for YOUR benefit. No one will think it odd that you have additional information at your disposal.

Don't feel as though you have to keep the presentation monotone and serious. Inject some life into it by just being yourself. Everyone in the room is human and will appreciate that it isn't always easy standing infront of a load of strangers and talking to them all at once. If you are nervous, then just make a joke before you start like 'this is my first time presenting to a lot of people. If it goes well, my name is (real name), if not, my name is (something else)'. This will loosen the mood and make everone feel a lot more comfortable, especially you.

Slides are also much easier on the eye if the background is black with a white text!!!

hope this all helps.

Halcyon · 27-09-2004, 21:33

Do a rehearsel before and make sure everythings working as you know how unreliable computers can be.
Try to set a certain time for each slide. Like spend 5 minutes on each and then move on. Or if you have an allocated amount of time divide it per slide.

Ramrod · 27-09-2004, 21:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by altis

I beg to differ there.

Taken from the Society of Techers of Alexander Technique website at:
http://www.stat.org.uk/

Sounds ideal to me.

Relaxation is a possible side effect, not the primary goal of Alexander Tech. If having better posture makes Halcyon more relaxed then go for it.......

TheBlueRaja · 27-09-2004, 22:09

Well, you see the thing is that i know the presentation reasonably well as i have went over it many times already but never actually presented it.

My issue is with the confidence to stand there an give it - my heart starts to race thinking about it and give me major butterflies.

I kinda even feel a bit physically sick at the thought to be honest.

27-09-2004, 22:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by theblueraja

Well, you see the thing is that i know the presentation reasonably well as i have went over it many times already but never actually presented it.

My issue is with the confidence to stand there an give it - my heart starts to race thinking about it and give me major butterflies.

I kinda even feel a bit physically sick at the thought to be honest.

aha - time to start thinking you know more about 'your' subject, than they do - or as, so often mentioned, "picture them in their underwear"