Fidgeting

 

If you've gotten into the habit of fidgeting, it can be difficult to snap out of it. However, it's important to take steps to reigning¹ in this nervous habit.

 

Playing with your hair

 

Leave your hair alone. Constantly running your hands across your scalp and twirling your locks is pretty distracting. Plus, as ABC reported, it can damage your hair overtime². It can be hard to quit, so try playing around a stress ball instead of your hair.

 

Adopting a defensive³ pose

 

Many people naturally cross their arms or hunch⁴ over a bit just because they don't know what to do with their hands.

 

However, this posture⁵ can make you look uncomfortable, defensive, or untrustworthy.

 

Doing weird⁶ things with your hands

 

To gesture or not to gesture? That is the question.

 

Shuffling⁷ instead of walking

 

Humans are pretty judgmental creatures. We think we can tell a lot about someone based on snap judgments⁸ over something as simple as their manner of walking.

 

It can be hard to change up your walk once you've fallen into bad habits, but it's important to walk with confidence and coordination⁹. Don't shuffle¹⁰ through life.

 

Forgetting to smile

 

Reiman previously¹¹ told Business Insider that smiling demonstrates confidence, openness, warmth, and energy.

 

Appearing distracted

 

There's nothing more irritating than talking to someone who's clearly not paying attention to you.

 

Slouching

 

Stand up straight. Terrible posture is easy to develop, especially if you're slouched over a desk for the majority of the day.

 

Nonexistent or aggressive eye contact

 

Here's another body language pitfall¹² where moderation is key.

 

Being too still

 

It's definitely good not to be jumping all over the place, constantly. However, you don't want to be too eerily¹³ calm during conversations. This may make people feel uneasy, or that you're not interested in what they're saying.

 

Instead, try to mirror the person you're speaking with. Don't mimic¹⁴ them -- they'll probably get offended by that -- but subtly copy some of their gestures and expressions.

 

Mismatching verbal and non-verbal communication

 

You might be saying all the right things -- but if your body language doesn't match up with your words, you might end up rubbing people the wrong way.

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