5 Ways to Improve Your Body Language

Your body language and posture tells a lot about your level of confidence and your mood and attitude toward an individual or situation. It can also make or break someone's first impression of you. The first step to improve your body language and posture is to be conscious of both. Below are five helpful tips to improve your overall body language:

Make eye contact. You don't need to - and should not - stare at the person you're conversing with, but make eye contact. This lets them know that you are interested in what they are saying and that you mean what you say.

Relax your shoulders. Stiff shoulders are a tell-tale sign of tension or anxiety in any given situation. Relaxing your shoulders not only relaxes yourself but lets others know that you are in non-defense mode.

Refrain from crossing your arms or legs. You may already know that crossing your arms gives off a negative vibe, but crossing your legs can have the same effect. As a woman, simply sit with your legs together and closed. If you are a man, sit with your legs comfortably apart.

Smile while you are talking with someone. Smiling casually while talking has a calming effect on the other person, even during a phone conversation. Smiling also suggests that you're taking a friendly, non-defensive stance.

Stop fidgeting. Rocking or shaking your legs or having fidgety hands is an indicator of personal anxiety or uneasiness. Be conscious of your bodily movements in social situations and refrain from fidgeting as much as possible. Simply put: Relax!