These simple tips may help you reduce stress and feel calm before an interview.
Breathing
The simplest and most direct way to calm anxiety is by controlling something we do every day – our breathing. The problem is that when we are anxious, we breathe in a way that can actually make our anxiety worse. Shallow, rapid breathing reduces the amount of oxygen that is getting into our systems and causes us to feel lightheaded and anxious.
By practicing a deeper, slower form of breathing, we can enable oxygen saturation, which tells our bodies and our brains that everything is ok and we are not in danger. When our brain gets that message, it stops releasing stress hormones and slows our heart rate back down, relieving our anxiety.
To practice this breathing technique:
- Sit comfortably, with back straight and shoulders relaxed.
- Put one hand on your stomach and one on your chest.
- Breathe slowly and deeply so that the hand on your stomach rises, not the one on your chest.
It takes practice, so try to find one or two minutes several times a day to hone this technique. If you wait until you are really anxious, you won’t have the best results. Practice when you aren’t anxious so that it will work when you need it.
Change Your “Self-talk”
When we are anxious, we tend to talk to ourselves, or think to ourselves, in very negative ways. These negative messages fuel our anxiety.
The simple act of changing our thoughts can lead to a calmer body state. “I can’t think straight and I’m going to make a mess of this meeting” can be changed to “I am very capable and it’s going to be a really productive meeting.” One message would make anyone feel nervous, the other is a more reality-based message that creates a calm and coping response.
Remember
We have a position we want to fill, so we want you to do a great interview. We’re looking for the best in you and we understand that a bit of nervousness is natural. So relax and have confidence in yourself.