Hakuna Matata means “no worries”, and a calm mind with happy thoughts is sure to help handle any nerves.
As auditions, competitions and games take off in the Fall for PVHS students, staying calm and managing nerves are of utmost importance.
Get adequate sleep the night before
- In order to wake up feeling ready for a big event, a good night’s sleep is essential. Sleep deprivation before an audition, competition or game can mess with nerves or memory. Adequate sleep strengthens mental sharpness and refreshes energy to ensure students reach their full potential.
Drink water and eat fulfilling food
- Leading up to auditions and competitions, drinking water is key in order to maintain anxiety and steer clear of dehydration. Students want to feel physically and mentally ready, so they should eat nutritious food with vitamins and minerals. Bananas are a great source of food to calm any nerves!
Warm up properly
- For musicians with important auditions, warming up is a crucial process to make sure their voice or instrument is comfortable with the music and skills. But they don’t want to warm up so much that they feel overwhelmed or overworked. Athletes with upcoming tournaments, competitions or games want to be physically ready by warming up with stretches and exercises. Having a go-to warm up is helpful in order to provide a consistent, reliable routine.
Switch your mindset of anxiety to excitement
- The psychological experience of anxiety and excitement are nearly identical, but students can be in charge of how they handle those emotions and approach their mindsets. Channeling nerves into confidence can help deal with pre-event jitters.
Have a pep talk with a friend
- Hearing positive words of encouragement from friends, family, teachers or coaches can be especially helpful on big days. Some feel more calm when they’re on their own, but talking to a peer provides comfort and ease in the process. Supporting and cheering on friends goes a long way!
Take deep breaths
- Controlled breathing helps calm the nervous system, so by just taking a few deep breaths, students can center themselves to feel more at peace. A big inhale and exhale is just the trick for a successful performance in activities.
Visualize success
- Paint a vivid mental picture of what could go right. Positivity is very significant while preparing for auditions or competitions. Visualizing the desired result boosts confidence and ensures quality preparation.
Remember these tips for your next big event!
