A Few Sneaky Tips for Calming Nerves

Tomorrow I have to give a presentation to the staff and postgraduates of my department. Although this isn't my first time public speaking, I'm still feeling jittery. Do you have any tips for calming nerves? Here are a few of my tried and tested methods...

1. Be prepared. If I've practiced what I'll be saying, and have all my papers ready the night before, I immediately feel more in control. Sometimes I even rehearse how I'll introduce myself, or how I'll phrase any little jokes I've planned!

2. Power dress. Tomorrow I'll be wearing my brand new American Apparel black sweater dress with a statement necklace. When all eyes are on you, I think it's important to present yourself well. But avoid anything too fussy, or any jewelry that you're going to fidget with while you speak.

3. Distract yourself. The night before/morning before/hour before. Watch a film, go for a run, grab a coffee with a friend (and make a rule not to talk about your presentation), or read a new book or magazine. There's no point in wasting time worrying.

4. Have a pump-up song. Listen to it whenever the jitters strike. Here's one of my suggestions:

5. Lastly, have a treat planned afterwards: you deserve it! Post-presentation, I'm going for a drink with my girlfriends and then we're going to eat falafel (these leopardy shoes would also be an excellent treat)

Now go and show them what you're made of!

p.s. the no-big-deal theory also applies

Photos: workspace (Sunday in Bed); outfit (Dooney and Bourke); man reading (Salty Denim); leopard shoes (Pinterest)

Fashion Scenario

Last week I was browsing through the Zara website, and putting together imaginary outfits. Isn't their new collection beautiful? I'm dreaming of....

A sunny stroll in black skinny jeans, a simple white shirt and these slippers

Sipping an iced-tea and admiring the cloudless skies in these effortlessly chic sunglasses

Tossing this blueberry coloured scarf over my shoulders after the sun goes down

And carrying this unbelievably cool umbrella around with me, because I do live in Ireland after all

What's on your wishlist? 

Design by Aaron Kelwick

'whatever I have tried to do in life, I have tried to do well; that whatever I have devoted myself to, I have devoted myself to completely; that, in great aims and in small, I have always been thoroughly in earnest'

Charles Dickens, David Copperfield.

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A man is but the product of his thoughts what he thinks, he becomes. 

Mahatma Ghandi

The Power of Now

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“If you get the inside right, the outside will fall into place. Primary reality is within; secondary reality without.”

Eckhart Tolle, The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment

Fahrenheit 451

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We need not to be let alone. We need to be really bothered once in a while. How long is it since you were really bothered? About something important, about something real?

Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury

First Monday of 2013

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I tend to leave my resolution making until after new year's day. Usually I try to have them ready to roll out by the second week of January as, let's face facts, the first week is far too soon to pretend I'm going to run every day and not eat biscuits. By the second week I feel more prepared. I've become acquainted with the new year; the two of us have still been having a bit of a flirt with the saucy last days of dirty old December, but we're ready to move on now. Onwards and upwards. 2013, it's time.

I've tried to keep my challenges simple and practical this year:

I'm going to work hard on making my mornings productive. It takes me a long time to wake up properly even after I've had my coffee, so it makes sense to set the alarm clock an hour earlier so that I can relax and read, and by 9am I'll hopefully be in the game, rather than just pretending to be.

I'm going to broaden my culinary skills and try to add two new recipes to my repertoire each month, and also, eat fewer burritos from that place down the road.

I'm going to say yes to more things.

I'm going to get arms like Michelle Obama.

Don't tell anyone, but the biggest new year resolution I've made for 2013 is to spend next new year's eve on a beach, somewhere warm, with a glass of rum punch. This is by far the idea I've had in a long time.