What's on your mind today?

[DeterminedJuliet]

Both are stressful. Doing both at the same time is bound to take its toll.

Right.  Hang on in there and it'll begin to settle down.  Think of Scamp and possibly that American bloke, what's his name.

Both are very stressful and likely to wear anyone down, I think <3

As for me, I'm getting ready for my first solo international trip tomorrow and I'm a bit nervoussss. Heading to Texas for training. I've never been there before.

[OldGit]

Good luck!  But what are they training you to do?

[DeterminedJuliet]

Good luck!  But what are they training you to do?

Inspect non-corrosive coatings, haha.

[Tank]

Good luck!  But what are they training you to do?

Inspect non-corrosive coatings, haha.

Paint!

[Claireliontamer]

Scamp is with her Dad today, which didn't help as I miss her when she isn't here plus the cold and darkness seems to be drawing in.  However, I did get to speak to 'that American bloke' and have had a day of cooking comfort food.  Squash soup, fish pie and sticky toffee pudding........so now I feel full of stodge and much better

DJ - I hope the trip goes well.

[Tank]

Scamp is with her Dad today, which didn't help as I miss her when she isn't here plus the cold and darkness seems to be drawing in.  However, I did get to speak to 'that American bloke' and have had a day of cooking comfort food.  Squash soup, fish pie and sticky toffee pudding........so now I feel full of stodge and much better

DJ - I hope the trip goes well.

And watching Strictly Come Dancing !!

[Claireliontamer]

Scamp is with her Dad today, which didn't help as I miss her when she isn't here plus the cold and darkness seems to be drawing in.  However, I did get to speak to 'that American bloke' and have had a day of cooking comfort food.  Squash soup, fish pie and sticky toffee pudding........so now I feel full of stodge and much better

DJ - I hope the trip goes well.

And watching Strictly Come Dancing !!

I am.....Gleb took his shirt off, I was disappointed!

[Firebird]

Scamp is with her Dad today, which didn't help as I miss her when she isn't here plus the cold and darkness seems to be drawing in.  However, I did get to speak to 'that American bloke' and have had a day of cooking comfort food.  Squash soup, fish pie and sticky toffee pudding........so now I feel full of stodge and much better

DJ - I hope the trip goes well.

And watching Strictly Come Dancing !!

I am.....Gleb took his shirt off, I was disappointed!

Good luck. We just moved and it was painful. Hopefully not again for a while.

What's the new job?

[Sandra Craft]

Scamp is with her Dad today, which didn't help as I miss her when she isn't here plus the cold and darkness seems to be drawing in.  However, I did get to speak to 'that American bloke' and have had a day of cooking comfort food.  Squash soup, fish pie and sticky toffee pudding........so now I feel full of stodge and much better

That'll do it.

[xSilverPhinx]

Monday morning approches...I think I might die.

I have a few powerpoint slides and a poster I have to present and the anxiety is killing me. I wrote down a script of what I want to say and it looks nice on paper but when I try saying it I out loud end up blurting everything out in an almost incomprehensible string of poorly connected words, gobbling up smaller words and not putting emphasis where I'm supposed to.   

I try to slow down and pronounce each word clearly but when I remind myself to do that I end up forgetting my entire script. 

[Tank]

Monday morning approches...I think I might die.

I have a few powerpoint slides and a poster I have to present and the anxiety is killing me. I wrote down a script of what I want to say and it looks nice on paper but when I try saying it I out loud end up blurting everything out in an almost incomprehensible string of poorly connected words, gobbling up smaller words and not putting emphasis where I'm supposed to.   

I try to slow down and pronounce each word clearly but when I remind myself to do that I end up forgetting my entire script. 

Practice, practice, practice!

[Magdalena]

Monday morning approches...I think I might die.

I have a few powerpoint slides and a poster I have to present and the anxiety is killing me. I wrote down a script of what I want to say and it looks nice on paper but when I try saying it I out loud end up blurting everything out in an almost incomprehensible string of poorly connected words, gobbling up smaller words and not putting emphasis where I'm supposed to.   

I try to slow down and pronounce each word clearly but when I remind myself to do that I end up forgetting my entire script. 

My advice? Take a break from the project, or take a step back and look at the whole picture, connect everything, then go back and practice, practice, practice!
You'll be fine.

[OldGit]

Try delivering it with a bucket of rancid yoghurt balanced on your head.

[xSilverPhinx]

Practice, yes. Undoubtedly the more prepared I am, the less anxious I'll feel. I even felt nervous when practicing in front of friends and family (LOL, I'm such a mess when it comes to these things ).   

The big picture. Yes, good thinking. Always remember the big picture.

Try delivering it with a bucket of rancid yoghurt balanced on your head.

Hmm...I feel there must be a nugget of wisdom there, though I don't feel so inclined to try. Would imagining such a situation suffice?   

I wish I could place a bucket of rancid yoghurt on each of the judge's heads when the time comes, that way they wouldn't look so scary.  Maybe not so happy, but they'd look more vulnerable than I am...

[Icarus]

Rancid yogurt might work. A rather standard device for public speakers with stage fright is to imagine the people you are addressing are wearing no clothes. The mental image of some fat guy, with his belly fat  flopping around, is easy to dismiss as a judgmental sort. For a more severe mental image, imagine that the audience members all have diarrhea caused by a bad batch of sushi.

Keep your confidence and do believe that you are as competent as any of them and more competent than some of them.  In some cases a modicum of arrogance is useful.