are you a walking ball of nerves?

Constantly looking around, nervously flipping hair out of eyes, rubbing clammy hands down your thighs as you sit, forgetting to exhale while talking...any of these sound familiar? Put two or three of these behaviors together and WOW! you are a walking ball of nerves. Here are three ways to tame those anxious behaviors and give off the calm energy that will attract people towards you.

1. breathe
The most helpful thing you can do right now is to become aware of your breath. Chances are you are breathing in more air than you are exhaling. This lifts your shoulders and scrunches your neck and creates tension all across your shoulder blades. Try saying this to yourself as your breath: breathe in for 1...2...3... and out for 1....2...3... Stick with it for a few minutes until your breathing is under control. Feel the tension leave your shoulders as they lower from your ear lobes and elongate your neck.

2. close your eyes
Shut out the world by closing your eyes. Chances are, you're hyper-alert right now and your eyelids will resist staying shut. Take time to really focus on all the muscles on your face. Imagine releasing each one individually. Spend time on your forehead, then your eyebrows, then your eye lids, and so on, down your face. Keep coming back to the tension. No worries if it takes a while, just stick with it until your eyes are gently resting shut.

3. prepare
You've gotten your breath under control, your face is relaxed, now prepare a few things you feel comfortable talking about before entering the stressful situation. Have these topics "in your pocket" and ready for a conversation at a moment's notice. There's no shame in preparing conversations--not many people are comfortable winging it, especially when in a stressful setting.