Recently, we’ve discussed whether it’s authentically beneficial to show yourself on instastories. From our marketing and psychological research, the clear verdict has emerged: yes, it can do wonders for building your brand’s online awareness.

We’ve heard more times than not that it seems highly stressful and the thing stopping you from recording is the impression that it’s not going to be good enough. It resembles public speaking in some ways, so no wonder many of you feel shy or nervous. Good news: instastories anxiety doesn’t last forever! You’ll master it quicker than you think. Today we’ll discuss four proven ways to calm down the jitters and feel more powerful in front of the mobile camera – they will help you communicate with more clarity, as well as create a better connection with your audience. 

Some people joke around that the only way to be completely calm and relaxed while doing the talk on instastories is to drink liters of melissa (the herb that is known for its nerve-calming properties) or to take Xanax, but it’s not true: there are many working solutions to make you feel confident and more laid-back, so let’s begin! 

Make a plan

The first step towards being more carefree while recording is knowing what you’re going to say. We have to debunk a serious myth: don’t be deceived, your favorite creators seem to be talking so spontaneously and take great concepts out of nowhere in a second, but the truth is: very often, everything is scripted and learned by heart. Many times they also use prompters, you can’t see they’re reading (nowadays, prompters are extraordinarily smart from a technical perspective, and they can be pretty discreet), but they actually are.

Collect your ideas and thoughts. Make a list and decide in which order you’re going to cover particular subjects you’ve prepared. When you have everything noted down, you won’t get distracted easily and won’t lose the thread. Minimizing distractions is crucial because it will unconsciously calm down your mind as you’ll feel that you have everything figured out and under control.

Preparation is the key to conquering stress and camera anxiety (even if it’s only your mobile phone). We believe that preparation gives you the confidence – and that’s precisely what our friends-influencers have told us. When you know you have a crafted plan, and you’re good at the topic you’re going to speak about – what can go wrong? You’ll have a lot to say, even if your voice sounds a little bit unsteady – and what is more, most probably nobody will notice or hear that you aren’t as self-assured as you’d like to be.  

Remember about breathing and keep a glass with water next to you

It may sound obvious but believe us: it’s not. We’re not saying you may forget to breathe, so don’t start to laugh: the thing is, there are actually many specific breathing techniques that may make you feel at ease and make the pressure go away. There are also many meditation techniques composed for such moments. Deep breaths make a difference – some of you may smile with doubt, but even the most outgoing Hollywood actors practice it, so why not give it a try? 

When it comes to water – take small sips, and you’ll avoid the feeling of dry mouth, which can be really irritating and may keep you distracted. 

Slow down!

When we’re even a tiny bit nervous, we tend to talk much faster than usual. You may not even notice it, but your speaking tempo is speeding up, as you’d love to end the sentence quicker. Try to talk much slower: you’ll instantly appear more self-confident, calmer, and much more relaxed – even if those are only semblances, as they say: fake till you make it! When you look and sound more chilled, you’ll feel more chilled inside as well because you won’t recognize the jumpiness in your voice. 

Try till you’re happy with the results 

Most probably, the first time you record something, you won’t get the perfect result in the first 10 seconds. That’s okay. Actually, nobody does.

Give yourself time and empathy. It only takes a little practice to be much better at it – and feel much more comfortable while recording. It may feel challenging at first, but the more you record, the more natural it will be. Then, you’ll say, “I can’t imagine content creation without spoken instastories!”

Being able to conquer the stress of fear is a battle already won! Practice as much as you can because practicing and planning are the most practical stress management tools. And most of all: enjoy stepping out of your comfort zone because spoken instastories may bring you surprising results and a great connection with the audience: so it’s going to be entirely worth it.