How Do I Slow My Speech Down?

People talk quickly for many reasons. Regional differences, nervousness or even natural habit can speed up your speech. Whatever the reason, fast speech can be detrimental. Others have a hard time understanding you, which will work against you in situations like a job interview. You might come off as nervous and lacking in confidence as well. You can take steps to slow down your speech and become more clear, such as performing deep breathing exercises, reading with rhythm and self-monitoring your speech.

Things You'll Need

• Poetry
• Sticky notes

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Instructions

• 1

  Practice deep-breathing exercises every morning. Lie down with a small book on your stomach, allowing the book to move up and down as you breathe. You can also try standing up straight, placing your fingers along your lower ribs facing down and taking slow, deep breaths through your nose. Breathing exercises will help calm you down, slowing your speech as a result. They also ensure you take in enough oxygen. This helps prevent slow digestion, depression and fogginess, symptoms of decreased oxygen flow to the lower lungs.

• 2

  Read poetry daily. Poetry has a set rhythm with built-in pauses. Following this rhythm will help you develop your own natural speaking rhythm. Pause at every comma and at the end of each verse. Choose poems such as "Phenomenal Woman" by Maya Angelou and William Shakespeare's "Shall I Compare Thee To a Summer's Day?," which contain many pauses.

• 3

  Self-monitor your speech patterns. Write down the word "pause" on a sticky note and place it on your refrigerator door. Attach the note to your computer at work as a reminder to slow down and regain yourself when you begin talking fast.

• 4

  Tell your friends and family about your mission to slow down your speech. Ask them to tell you when you talk very fast.