PAUSE

Pause more
Give yourself time to think - allow pauses to happen (don’t rush them)
Use word stumbles, stutters or repetitions as a cue to pause (brain needs a sec to think)
Anytime you feel yourself pushing against a pause, stop and breathe (or wiggle toes)
Tip: Do something physical when you pause - this ensure you give it adequate time and helps lessen some of the discomfort
- Wiggle Toes (discreetly): Mentally scan down to your toes and actively push them into the ground then release (do a few times if you need a longer pause)
- Breathe: Take a full belly breath before you start speaking (this creates a natural pause)
Reminders:
- Don’t think/plan so far ahead!!
- Build each piece/point as you go, based on what you just said
Daily Practice:
- Answer 5-6 opinion questions daily, out loud, working to integrate pause as you speak
Here’s a list of questions if you need some inspiration: https://learning.blogs.nytimes.com/2016/02/24/our-100-most-popular-student-questions-for-debate-and-persuasive-writing/’