Introduction
Welcome to this session on pre-recording preparation! If you often find yourself with a mind racing at the speed of light as you're about to record on camera, causing you to lose track of your intended message or actions, then this guide is tailored for you. In the following sections, we present methods to help you find your focus and calm your nerves before the red light comes on.
Pre-Recording Meditation and Breathing Exercise
The Importance of Pre-Shoot Preparation
Taking a few minutes to center yourself can easily slip away in the hustle of setting up lights, cameras, and going over content. However, it is crucial to reallocate just about five minutes to meditate or engage in a breathing exercise to help you relax and ensure that you are fully prepared to present your material. Visualizing the bullet points of your content as a roadmap can give you a clearer trajectory for your delivery during the video.
Tools for Meditation
There's a plethora of meditation apps available that can be beneficial. Two highly recommended apps are:
- Headspace
- Calm
Both provide wonderful guided meditations and breathing exercises. But you don't need an app to get started, and we'll demonstrate an exercise that you can do right here.
Guided Breathing Exercise
Setup
- Posture: Whether you choose to perform this exercise standing or seated, keep your posture in check. If seated, sit upright without slouching.
- Position: Ensure your feet are flat on the ground, your hands are resting with palms up on your thighs, and your body is in a relaxed—yet alert—state.
Breathing Technique
- Inhale: Breathe in through your nose steadily for four seconds, filling your lungs with as much oxygen as you can.
- Hold: Keep that breath in for another four seconds.
- Exhale: Slowly release the breath through your mouth over eight seconds until your lungs are completely empty.
- Pause: Hold again for four seconds in that empty state before starting the cycle again.
Performing the Exercise
- We will do this together, and I will lead. Ready? Here we go:
- Breathe in for four seconds…
- Hold for four seconds…
- Breathe out for eight seconds, ensuring all air is expelled…
- Hold again for four seconds…
Repeat this cycle as many times as feels comfortable. Through this process, we're not only taking in positivity and fresh energy but also expelling any stress or negativity (“toxic” vibes).
Conclusion
Engaging in this quick, centered calming routine before you start filming can significantly enhance your presence and delivery on camera. Whether it's for a video presentation, a vlog, or any other on-camera work, mastering your pre-recording routine will propel you to deliver stellar performances consistently.
Now that you're equipped with this potent prep tool, go out there, get centered, and create amazing video content. Join us for the next lesson where we'll continue our journey in mastering on-camera skills. See you then!
