Tools To Reduce First Date Stress
by Patti Wood Author of SNAP Making the Most of First Impressions Body Language and Charisma. www.PattiWood.net
by Patti Wood Author of SNAP Making the Most of First Impressions Body Language and Charisma. www.PattiWood.net
- Relaxation
Technique and anchoring : Tension and stress
can literally make your make your heart race so before your date, even in
the days leading up to it start training your mind and body to let go of
stress. Put aside a few minutes of time in which you can fully relax. That
may mean lying down or sitting in a comfortable chair breathing and
tensing and relaxing your muscles. You start by breathing in deeply on a
count of three, and tensing and relaxing your feet by pointing them
downwards and then go through all your major muscle groups going up from
your feet up through your legs, stomach, throat, jaw, and facial muscles.
As you tense and release, breathe in on a slow count of three, hold three,
and release on a slow count of three, the entire time. You may relax by
closing your eyes, or looking at a peaceful scene (such as a photograph of
water or the trees outside your window), or even by taking a walk. When
you feel your body totally relaxed, place your hand on your belly, and
breathe in and out slowly. The hand on your stomach becomes a physical
anchor, linking you to a memory of your relaxed state. If you practice
this technique any time your put your hand on your stomach your bodies
muscle memory will recall the state and you will instantly be relaxed. Now
whenever you get nervous before a first date, place your hand on your
stomach and relax!
- Visualization: When
we are nervous about a first date, we tend to imagine everything that can
go wrong and have the video looping in our brain of all those imagined
mishaps. You can reduce your stress by replacing a script of a failing
with a script of a wonderful successful first date. When you are under
stress your brain goes to the script we have rehearsed the most and that
involved the most senses. So imagining your date the way, encompassing all
the senses. Get in a relaxed state and imagine yourself being on a great
first date. If you can see or imagine the actual place you are going, if
you can picture that exact space and your date sitting with you. See
yourself in the clothes you will be in, feel your body move confidently
and hear yourself speak with ease and energy. Visualize the strong eye
contact you’re making. See in your mind your date smiling and interested
in what you are saying and you doing the same for your date. Feel the
strong connection. Let the strong sense of confidence fill you up and
embrace the excitement, enthusiasm, and energy of that meeting. Hear in
your mind your own strong voice, as well as the laughter of you and your
date. Feel the ease of being with your date. Rehearse your first date
success throughout the day and before you go to sleep at night. And have
the fun on your date that you have imagined.
Patti Wood, MA - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at www.PattiWood.net. Check out Patti's website for her new book "SNAP, Making the Most of First Impressions, Body Language and Charisma" at www.snapfirstimpressions.com.
