What do you do if your personal life is taking a toll on your public speaking career?

1 Acknowledge your situation

The first step to deal with any problem is to acknowledge it and accept it. Denying or ignoring your personal issues will only make them worse and create more anxiety and guilt. You need to be honest with yourself and recognize how your personal life is impacting your public speaking career. For example, are you losing motivation, confidence, or focus? Are you missing deadlines, canceling engagements, or making mistakes? Are you feeling overwhelmed, depressed, or burned out? Once you identify the root causes of your difficulties, you can start to address them and seek help if needed.

2 Set boundaries and priorities

One of the most common challenges for public speakers is to balance their personal and professional lives. You may feel pressured to accept every opportunity, work long hours, and travel frequently. However, this can take a toll on your health, relationships, and happiness. You need to set clear boundaries and priorities for yourself and communicate them to others. For example, you can decide how much time you want to spend on work and personal activities, how often you want to travel, and what kind of engagements you want to take. You can also learn to say no to requests that are not aligned with your goals or values.

3 Take care of yourself

Your personal life can affect your public speaking career not only mentally but also physically. You need to take care of yourself and maintain a healthy lifestyle that supports your well-being and performance. For example, you can adopt habits such as eating well, sleeping enough, exercising regularly, and meditating. You can also find hobbies or passions that bring you joy and relaxation. Moreover, you can seek professional help if you are struggling with mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, or trauma. Taking care of yourself will help you cope with stress, boost your energy, and improve your mood.

4 Seek support and feedback

You don't have to deal with your personal issues alone. You can seek support and feedback from people who care about you and understand your situation. For example, you can talk to your friends, family, colleagues, mentors, or coaches about your challenges and emotions. You can also join online or offline communities of public speakers who share your experiences and offer advice. Seeking support and feedback will help you feel less isolated, more understood, and more motivated. It will also help you learn from others and improve your skills.

5 Be flexible and adaptable

Sometimes, your personal life can create unexpected situations that require you to change your plans or adapt to new circumstances. You need to be flexible and adaptable to deal with these situations and minimize their impact on your public speaking career. For example, you can have backup plans in case of emergencies, such as alternative speakers, venues, or topics. You can also use technology to deliver your speeches remotely or record them in advance. You can also adjust your expectations and goals according to your current reality and resources.

6 Celebrate your achievements

Finally, you need to celebrate your achievements and recognize your efforts. Your personal life may be taking a toll on your public speaking career, but that doesn't mean you are not doing a great job. You need to acknowledge your strengths, skills, and successes, and reward yourself for them. You can also ask for testimonials, reviews, or referrals from your clients or audience to boost your confidence and reputation. Celebrating your achievements will help you maintain a positive attitude, overcome challenges, and grow as a public speaker.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?