Getting comfortable with speaking - often and to anyone - is one of the best ways to stop feeling stuck or nervous when you need to talk. Aliénor Hunter, now a lead coach at UltraSpeaking, used to freeze just at the thought of calling a hairdresser. What helped her was simple: talking every day, about anything, with anyone.

Here’s how to do it in a way that actually works:

1. Start small and low-pressure. Say one sentence to the cashier, ask how their day’s going, or narrate what you’re doing out loud (like “I’m making breakfast now”).

2. Use every chance you get. Join a casual Zoom meeting and say just one sentence, or call a friend and keep it short.

3. Make it a daily habit. Even five minutes a day of quick, impromptu talking can make a difference.

Why does this help? Talking regularly “reboots” your brain’s voice circuits. UltraSpeaking students who do this report that within a month, they find words faster and feel calmer when speaking in front of others. Your brain gets used to the rhythm and flow of speech, so it stops feeling like such a big deal.

Try this if you’ve been out of practice - maybe after working remotely, taking a career break, or dealing with social anxiety - or right before a presentation. The more you speak, the less scary it gets. It’s like a muscle: the more you use it, the stronger it becomes.