Carla Kincaid-Yoshikawa
"Handling Stress & Stress Management"
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Interviewing and Stress: A Quick Relaxation Technique
September 25, 2010 by Carla Kincaid-Yoshikawa
Stress can affect us for a variety of reasons throughout our lives. Learning some reliable techniques to manage the stress response can enhance and even prolong our lives. One of the easiest, and one that can be used just before an interview, is a simple deep breathing and relaxation technique familiar to many people, but rarely considered in the context of interview preparation:
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Find a place where you can sit comfortably without attracting attention, such as a nearby coffee shop, the building lobby, or a quiet corner of the reception area. Sit with your feet flat on the floor and your arms relaxed, resting comfortably at your sides or on the arms of your chair. Breathe slowly, to the count of five, into your diaphragm, then out, also to the count of five. After taking several deep, rhythmic breaths, continue breathing deeply to this count while you focus your attention on different muscle groups.Start with a focus on the muscles in your toes. Next, focus on the muscles in your feet. After you’ve relaxed these muscles, move your attention up to your ankles, then your calves, and so on, as you continue to breathe deeply and rhythmically. Work your way up all the way up to your scalp, moving up the legs, both sides of your trunk and from your fingers up your arms. Finally, don’t forget the muscles above your shoulders, where many people often store tension: you neck, jaw, checks, and around the eyes. Finish the process by relaxing the muscles in your scalp, a rarely noticed but important group of muscles.
This process can be completed in 5 to 10 minutes and can do wonders for relieving stress, even before an interview. In addition to the physiological impact deep breathing has in relaxing us, the focus on various muscle groups can distract our minds from worrying about the interview to come. That, too, can help us counter the negative impacts of stress.
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Login to Comment Comments:09/27/2010
This is really helpful - and not only for interviewing - keep up the good work. Abe |
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