| How to Be Brave in Front of a Group of People Posted: 08 Mar 2019 12:00 AM PST Talking in front of a group of people can be a nerve-wracking experience. Public speaking is one of the most common fears, but you can still talk to a large group even if you're feeling nervous. Whether you're giving a speech, trying to speak up at meetings, or talking with friends, staying confident will help your voice be heard! EditPresenting a Speech - Practice before you need to get in front of people. Start by reading your speech out loud without anyone around so you get used to giving your presentation. When you get more comfortable speaking to yourself, find family members or close friends that will listen in a private setting. Ask for any feedback and try your presentation multiple times until you feel comfortable in a group.[1]
- Work your way up to presenting in front of a large group. Try speaking to 1 person and gradually increase how many people you invite to listen.
- If you can, use a microphone similar to what you'd use at the final presentation.
- Double check any notes or outlines you're using while you speak. Make sure any electronics you're using during your presentation work and that all distractions are turned off. Look over any note cards or documents you're using to make sure everything is in the correct order. If you need to, make adjustments with a pen and highlighter so you can easily see them while presenting.[2]
- Do your best to memorize as much of your speech as possible just in case you leave your notes at home or there are technical difficulties.
- If your speech relies on visuals, make sure to practice explaining what your pictures or graphs are in case the projector doesn't work.
- Do a few stretches to loosen up. When you get nervous, your body will feel tight and stiff. Stretch your arms, back, and legs 15 minutes before you're supposed to give your presentation so you don't feel as tense.[3]
- If you're feeling antsy, try shaking your arms out to relieve the stress
- Focus on getting through 5 minutes at a time. If you have to give a longer presentation, look at the time you're speaking in 5-minute chunks. Memorize the moments in your speech that happen every 5 minutes when you're practicing. This way, instead of worrying about the entire speech, you only have to focus on what you're saying for a small increment of time.[4]
- If you're calm during the first 5 minutes of your speech, you'll maintain that feeling for the rest of your speech.
- Speak slowly to calm your nerves. As you're delivering your speech, it's easy to speak too fast because you're nervous. When you feel like you're rushing through your speech, pause and take a breath before continuing so you can slow down.[5]
- Be careful not to speak too slow or your audience may find the speech boring.
- Aim to speak at approximately 190 words per minute to keep a steady, but effective pace to your speech.
- Continue your presentation even if things go wrong. Focus on your speech rather than any technical issues that may occur. If your microphone stops working, set it down and just continue with a louder voice. If you had a projector or a slideshow, continue on the parts of your speech that don't require any visuals.[6]
- Avoid getting stressed out over technical issues since the people working behind the scenes will be working on the problem.
- Don't draw attention to your nervous feelings since it could distract the audience from the main point of your presentation. Instead, continue with your speech like everything is fine.
- Thank your audience for listening to you if you're giving a speech. Make sure to say thank you at the beginning and end of your presentation so your audience knows that you appreciate them. Showing gratitude can also help show people that you are confident and makes your speech stand out more.[7]
- If you're giving a presentation where other coworkers or people helped you, make sure to thank them during your speech so you give them credit.
EditSpeaking up at Meetings - Prepare something to say before the meeting starts. If you know the subject of the meeting you're attending, try to find a problem you want to address or a concern you have. Write them down on a notepad to bring with you to the meeting so you're reminded to bring it up.[8]
- Make sure to talk about something you're knowledgable in so you don't overstep any boundaries.
- If the meeting is about a specific problem, brainstorm a few answers or suggestions you could bring up during the meeting.
- Talk to other people one at a time before the meeting starts. Arrive at your meeting early so you don't feel rushed or short on time. As other people arrive, make small talk with them so you feel more comfortable and confident. That way, you build a good repertoire with others before saying something to the entire group.[9]
- Say something within the first 10-15 minutes of the meeting. If you wait too long to speak during your meeting, other people may bring up your point. Aim to be one of the first few people to speak within the first 10-15 minutes so you can establish a confident voice.[10]
- Even if you don't have something substantial to say, affirming another person's comment can make an impact.
- Pose thought-provoking questions related to the meeting topic. Listen carefully to what other people in the meeting bring up and ask questions if you have concerns about their approach. Talk about "next steps" or a different method that you may think works better. As you ask these sorts of questions, others will notice that you make useful contributions and that you care about your job.[11]
- Ask your manager or mentor for feedback about how you've spoken up. Once the meeting is over, talk to someone you trust about how much you spoke during the meeting. Ask them what you could change about how you speak to the group. They can tell you if you should talk more in the meetings or if you're speaking too much, and offer pointers on what to do next time.[12]
- Speaking to a higher-up also shows initiative in your job and makes you seem like a hard worker who's looking to improve.
EditTalking in a Group Conversation - Position yourself in the middle of the group you're talking with. Instead of standing at the edge of a conversation, try to insert yourself into the middle of the group so you're more likely to be included. When you're there, others feel like you're part of the discussion and talk to you more.[13]
- Even if you don't speak all the time while you're in the middle of the group, stay engaged by making eye contact and having an interested expression.
- Remind yourself to say something every few minutes. If you haven't said anything in a few minutes, make a comment or ask a question related to what you're talking about. This can help bring up new conversation topics or steer the conversation in a direction that you want to talk about.[14]
- Actively listen to the conversation so you can contribute. For example, if someone mentions that they saw a movie, ask if they enjoyed it and why.
- If you feel too much pressure while making conversation, let yourself be quiet for a little while to ease your stress.
- If you're a new person in a group of people who all know each other, make sure to chime in since they may not acknowledge you as much on their own.
- Try making small contributions to the conversation so you don't seem quiet. Even if you aren't leading the conversation, you can still make your voice be heard. Small interjections, such as, "Yeah, totally," or, "No way!" can help add to the conversation and make you feel like you're involved.[15]
- Starting with small talk can help ease you into being more confident in future conversations.
- Work your way into a conversation if you're being excluded. If other people are talking amongst themselves but they aren't including you, do your best to add comments or contribute your point of view. If they're talking about something you're unfamiliar with, ask questions about it so you can feel more involved.[16]
- For example, if you hear your friends talking about a movie, you could ask, "I saw that too. What did you think of it?"
EditHaving Confident Body Language - Take slow and deep breaths beforehand. Take some time to breathe so you can calm down. Breathe in through your nose for 5 seconds, and then hold your breath for 1 second before you exhale through your nose or mouth. Keep taking deep breaths for 2-3 minutes until you feel more relaxed.[17]
- Many phone apps can guide you through breathing in order to calm down. Look for one on your device's app store.
- Smile often. Smiling makes your voice sound happier and will help hide your nerves while you're talking to a group of people. Others will see you as a friendly, confident, and approachable person.[18]
- Make sure to smile at appropriate times. For example, smiling throughout an entire eulogy at a funeral may not work the best, but you may smile if you're sharing a funny memory.
- Maintain eye contact while you talk. Avoid looking at a wall or the floor since other people in the group will see that you're nervous. Pick a few people around the room to focus on while you're talking so they feel connected with you and to draw them into what you're saying.[19]
- Avoid staring at one person for too long so they don't feel uncomfortable.
- Keep good posture and body language while speaking. Straighten your back instead of slouching since this will make you look more confident. Keep your head high and your shoulders back so you can take deep breaths and calm down if you need to.[20]
- Avoid crossing your arms in front of you since it will make you seem closed off.
- Learn from each opportunity you have to interact with a big group so you can improve in the future.
- Always arrive early to places so you don't feel rushed and anxious.
- Wear clothes that are appropriate for the occasion that are also comfortable. That way, you'll feel more confident and relaxed while speaking.
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| How to Steam Dresses Posted: 07 Mar 2019 04:00 PM PST Instead of ironing a wrinkled dress, try steaming it! The steam makes the fibers relax, which gets rid of the wrinkles, and the heat kills odor-causing bacteria. Steaming is also a great way to refresh dresses that can't be laundered frequently. If you have a steamer, you'll need just a few minutes of time to get your dress ready-to-wear. If you don't have a steamer, try placing your dress in the bathroom while you run a hot shower—the heat can release wrinkles while you're getting ready. EditFollowing Best Practices - Use your steamer on cotton, silk, wool, and polyester dresses. Most blended fabrics can be steamed, as can most finer materials like cashmere, silk, satin, and lace, but those materials should always be tested beforehand if they haven't been steamed before.[1]
- If you have a dress that is pleated or has creases, you'll want to use an iron rather than a steamer. A steamer can't create or reinforce creases.[2]
- Avoid steaming dresses that have leather or suede materials. These materials are more likely to melt or warp if you apply steam to them. If the leather or suede doesn't cover a large part of the dress, you could always try covering that section with a clean towel and steaming around it. Just use caution and don't hold the steamer over the edge between leather and fabric for too long.[3]
- Similarly, any kind of plastic or waxy material shouldn't be steamed.
- Test delicate materials before starting the steaming process. Steam can discolor, warp, and even shrink certain kinds of fabrics. Run the steamer along the inside of the dress in the back. Choose a small section, just square. Steam that section as you normally would, and then let it dry and cool down. Check the section afterwards for signs of discoloration or shrinkage. If there aren't any, then you're good to go![4]
- If you don't think the dress should be steamed, you may want to take it to a professional cleaner.
- Steam expensive garments through a white cloth to protect them. If you're steaming wrinkles out of a wedding dress or any other expensive garment, avoid getting steam directly onto the dress itself. Instead, use a white cloth as a barrier between the steamer and your dress. A clean white towel or handkerchief would work well for this process. Simply hold it against the dress as you steam it, moving it along with you as you go from section to section.[5]
- Store your more expensive dresses, like a wedding dress or gown, on padded hangers to protect the shoulders from getting misshapen (since a steamer can't reshape fabric).
EditUsing a Handheld Steamer - Hang your dress on a hook in a non-cramped space. Choose a location where you'll have ample room to maneuver the steaming wand and where you'll be able to move the dress around easily. A hook on the back of a door would work well, or you could even hang it off of the shower rod in your bathroom. Always hang the dress from a hanger, and then hang the hanger from a hook (don't hang the dress directly on a hook).[6]
- Some steamers come equipped with stands. If yours does, feel free to use it!
- If you aren't ready to invest in a steamer yourself, try borrowing one from a friend first. That way you can try it out and make sure it's an investment you want to make.
- Fill up the steamer with distilled water. Non-distilled water has minerals in it, which can cause a hard, white deposit to appear in your steamer. Buy distilled water from the store, and put fresh water into your steamer every time you use it.[7]
- If you notice a build-up of minerals in your steamer (if you've been using non-distilled water), fill up the reservoir 1/3 of the way with white vinegar and 2/3 of the way with distilled water. Run the steamer until most of the liquid is gone, and then dump out the liquid that remains. Fill up the reservoir again with distilled water only, and run the steamer again to make sure all the vinegar is gone.
- Warm up the steamer and depress the main button for 1 minute. This gets rid of the old reservoir water and purifies the nozzle so that it doesn't transmit any bacteria to your dress. Keep holding in the main button until there is a continuous stream of steam.[8]
- If you use your steamer often, it might not take the full minute to get the steamer ready. Just make sure there are no more "coughs" or bursts coming from the steamer before you actually move on to the dress.
- Pull the dress taut and steam it section by section to eliminate wrinkles. Hold the steamer about away from the dress in one hand. Use your other hand to pull the fabric of the dress taut. Work in sections from the top to bottom, and spend 1 to 2 minutes on each area, moving the steamer in long, slow, downward strokes until you see the fabric relaxing.[9]
- For example, if you have a long-sleeved dress you could start by steaming each arm, then the front chest area, the midsection, and the bottom front section. Then turn the dress over and do the top of the back, the middle of the back, and the bottom of the back.
- If you place the steamer too close to the dress, you'll leave watermarks and the steam will get backed up, which could result in a burst of steam that damages the dress when you finally pull it back.[10]
- For wedding dresses made of tulle, lace, and chiffon, work in small circles rather than long strokes. Wedding dresses made of other materials should be steamed by a professional.[11]
- Tackle heavy wrinkles by applying steam directly to them. If there are areas that are heavily wrinkled, hold the steamer over them for 30 to 60 seconds at a time. Keep pulling the fabric taut and watch to see when the wrinkles start relaxing. Once they're gone, continue with steaming the rest of the dress.[12]
- Remember to not press the steamer directly against the fabric, even when directly treating big wrinkles. It could burn or discolor the fabric.
- Let the dress dry completely before you put it on. After you steam the dress, leave it alone for about 10 minutes so it has time to dry and cool off. While the dress won't be wet, it will be a little damp from the steam. Putting it on right away could make the wrinkles set back in.[13]
- A great way to keep your clothes in good shape is to take a few minutes to steam your garments after you've worn them. So when you get home, take some time to steam your dress before putting it back into the closet.
EditRunning a Hot Shower - Hang your dress from the shower rod. Put your dress onto a sturdy hanger, and then hang that off of a shower rod. Position the hanger so that the dress isn't too close to the showerhead (you don't want the dress to get wet). You can do this before you take your next shower, or anytime you need to steam your dress.[14]
- This is a great way to steam dresses and other garments when you've been traveling and don't have access to a steamer.
- While using the shower is great for getting rid of minor wrinkles, it may not get out really large, heavy creases in the fabric.
- Close any windows or doors. If the bathroom has windows or doors leading to other rooms, close as many of them as you can. This will keep the steam in the main area of the bathroom, which will help it permeate your dress a lot better.[15]
- Don't run the exhaust fan.
- Run a hot shower for 10 minutes. Turn on the water as hot as it will go (unless you're showering, in which case just turn it to whatever temperature you prefer), and then let the water run for 10 minutes. If you aren't showering or using the bathroom, you can leave the room and do something else while your dress is getting steamed.[16]
- The hotter the water, the steamier the room will get. And the steamier the room, the better your dress will turn out.
- Pull the dress taut in sections to remove the wrinkles. After the 10 minutes are up, go ahead and turn off the shower. Leave your dress hanging and pull each section of the dress taut to erase the wrinkles. For example, if there were wrinkles running across the skirt of your dress, pull the bottom of the skirt down so that the fabric is stretched tight. This eliminates the wrinkles because the fabric was relaxed by the steam. Pull the bottom of the dress, the sleeves, and the midsection if the dress has a waist.[17]
- You can also use your hands to smooth down the dress and look for other wrinkles you need to pull out.
- Let the dress dry completely before you put it on. The dress may not be wet, exactly, but it might have some moisture from the steam clinging to it still. Leave it alone for 10 to 15 minutes to let it dry and cool off before you wear it.[18]
- If there are wrinkles that didn't come out, you may need to iron the material or use a steamer.
- Take your time and steam slowly. You might think that waving the steamer around will make the process faster, but it won't. Be methodical as you steam your dress.[19]
- Always keep the steamer hose as straight as possible. Avoid bending over—that might cause the hose to bend. Instead, bring the fabric up to you.[20]
- If you have a dress with lots of embroidery or embellishments on it, steam it inside out to protect the decorations.
- Never steam a dress while you're wearing it. You could burn yourself![21]
EditSources and Citations
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| How to Make a Camping Toilet Posted: 07 Mar 2019 08:00 AM PST For many people, one of the roughest aspects of camping is going without the comfort and familiarity of a modern toilet. However, if you're out in the boonies without a toilet in sight, don't fret; you can easily make your own! All you need to make a portable camping toilet is a large bucket, a garbage bag, and either a pool noodle or some plywood and a toilet seat. EditUsing a Pool Noodle - Cut your pool noodle to be just shorter than the bucket's circumference. Use measuring tape to measure the circumference of the rim of the bucket. Then, use a utility knife to cut your noodle to be about shorter than this measurement.[1]
- The noodle needs to be slightly shorter than the bucket's circumference so that you're able to fit it entirely around the rim of the bucket without the edges of the noodle's ends bumping up against each other.
- Use a utility knife to slice open 1 side of the pool noodle. Draw a line down the length of the noodle from top to bottom to guide your knife when you go to slice it. Opening the noodle this way will allow you to set it snugly along the rim of the bucket.[2]
- After you cut open the side of the noodle, use your hands to gently pull the 2 sides of the cut you just made apart. Make sure the noodle has been completely cut open before you move on to the next step.
- Secure the noodle to the rim of the bucket with epoxy adhesive. Place epoxy adhesive along the inside of the pool noodle, making sure to closely follow the manufacturer's instructions for usage. Then, place the noodle onto the rim of the bucket and push it downward so that it "snaps" into place.[3]
- You can also opt to skip the epoxy adhesive entirely and just make your toilet out of a bucket and pool noodle. However, without the epoxy, the noodle seat will be less secure when you go to sit on it.
- You can buy epoxy adhesive at any home improvement store.
- For best results, allow your epoxy to cure for at least 24 hours before using your camping toilet.
EditAttaching a Toilet Seat to a Bucket or Chair - Trace the outer and inner circumferences of the toilet seat on plywood. Lay the toilet seat on top of a piece of plywood and use a pencil or marker to trace around the interior hole and the outside of the seat. Be sure to mark the holes in the back where the seat will be screwed into the plywood, as well.[4]
- If possible, add a second, slightly larger circle around the tracing of the interior hole and plan to cut along this second line so that your piece of plywood is smaller than the actual toilet seat. This will make it less likely for waste to accidentally get onto the plywood.
- Cut out the tracing with a jigsaw and drill out the attachment holes. Cut along the exterior tracing first, then cut out the tracing of the interior hole. Use a drill bit that is equal in size to the bolts you're using to attach the seat to the plywood.[5]
- Your toilet seat most likely came with bolts and nuts that you're meant to use to install it. If for some reason you're missing these materials, bolts that are in diameter will probably work for your toilet.
- If you plan on using a chair for your camping toilet, be sure to drill a hole in the chair that is the same size as the interior hole of your plywood piece.
- Attach 4 small blocks of wood to the bottom of the plywood piece. These will act as stoppers to prevent the toilet seat from sliding off of the bucket or out of the chair when you go to use it. Use nails or screws to attach the wood pieces to the bottom of the plywood on all 4 sides.[6]
- Drive a nail or a screw down through the plywood piece and into each piece of wood in order to attach them.
- These wood pieces can be any size or shape, as long as they fit inside of the bucket. For best results, use pieces that are at least long and that aren't wider than the toilet seat itself.
- Secure the toilet seat to the plywood with bolts and nuts. Screw the bolts through the hinge on the back of the toilet seat and through the drill holes on the back of the plywood piece. Attach the nuts to the ends of the bolts on the underside of the plywood to secure the plywood to the toilet seat.[7]
- The hinge is the plastic piece on the back of the toilet seat that connects it to the lid.
- Place the toilet seat over your bucket or chair to finish your toilet. Push the seat through the hole in the chair if you're using one, or simply place it over the top of your bucket. Make sure all 4 bottom pieces of wood fit snugly and securely in the bucket or in the hole in the chair.[8]
- Be sure to place a bucket underneath your chair before you use your new camping toilet.
EditUsing Your Camping Toilet - Place a bag inside the bucket. Make sure the bag goes all the way down to the bottom of the bucket and that the top of the bag completely covers your noodle seat. For best results, use a heavy-duty garbage bag that doesn't easily rip.[9]
- If you're worried about odor, you can also use special odor-blocking garbage bags instead of ordinary bags. You can buy these at any grocery store.
- Pour of absorption medium in the bottom of the bag. Use sawdust, cat litter, dirt, or some other absorption medium to soak up any liquids in the bag and suppress the odor. You'll also use this medium to cover your waste every time you finish using the toilet.[10]
- After you use the toilet, pour enough sawdust or cat litter into the bag so that your waste is completely covered.
- For convenience, keep your absorption medium in a separate garbage bag and use a plastic cup to scoop the medium into your toilet.
- You can get sawdust from a sawmill or lumberyard or buy sawdust at a feed store.
- Take the bag out of the toilet and tie it closed once you're done with it. Again, make sure you've covered your waste before you take out the bag. Use a double knot when tying the bag to make sure it's securely closed and that none of the contents will fall out.[11]
- Dispose of the bag and sanitize the inside of the bucket after every use. Tie the bag containing the waste closed, then place it inside another bag and tie this second bag closed as well. Take the bags to a drop-off facility for hazardous waste in order to dispose of them properly.[12]
- You can sanitize the inside of the bucket by washing it with dish soap and warm water.
- Do not simply leave your bag at the campsite when you head home; this is considered littering.
- If you want to ensure you can use your camping toilet in privacy, place it inside a cheap pop-up tent to create a makeshift outhouse near your camping site.
- Keep some toilet paper in a sealable plastic bag or old coffee can inside your bucket when you're not using your toilet. Then, simply take the toilet paper out of the bucket before you insert your garbage bag. This way, you'll never forget to bring toilet paper with you when you use the toilet!
- You can also attach the toilet paper to the handle of the bucket, if you don't plan on moving the bucket very much.
- Take along heavy-duty garbage bags for your waste. You'll likely need more than 1 bag if you plan on camping for an extended period. Take enough bags to change bags every 2 or 3 days, depending on the number in your camping party.
EditThings You'll Need - Pool noodle
- plywood
- 4 small pieces of wood
- Jigsaw
- Utility knife
- bucket
- trash bags
- Epoxy adhesive
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