Your first driving lesson can be intimidating. You’re on the road and behind the wheel, and you think about all the possibilities that could occur. It’s extremely crucial for you, however, to understand that stress won’t do you any good, and will only harm your performance.

In fact, past studies have found that increased levels of stress can actually reduce your productivity—and that’s not what you want on your first driving lesson! You’ll be glad to know that there are many stress and anxiety coping techniques you can adopt to calm your nerves.

Here are some ways to find your Zen before your driving lesson:

Understand the dynamics of your car

Before heading out to your driving lesson, make sure you master the various controls of your car. The more you do this, the more comfortable you’ll feel.

Understand the function of every lever, pedal, and button. Know where the light and heating controls are, and so on.

Lift the bonnet and know where the dip stick, oil refill cap, or engine coolant reservoirs are. Keep in mind that the more knowledgeable you are, the more confident you’ll feel during your lesson.

Private practice

Asking your friends or family members to accompany you on your practice driving lessons can help you perform better. It will also reduce your anxieties about getting things wrong during the lessons.

Choose a time that works best for you both and allocate at least 45 minutes to 1 hour to practice driving.

Be kind to yourself

Before you take your first driving lesson, understand that it’s completely okay to make mistakes and you’re bound to do so. Being afraid to make them can only put unnecessary pressure on you and affect your performance.

Tell yourself that you’ll do your best during the lesson, and that you’ll only learn from your mistakes and not let them stop you from moving on.

The key is to focus throughout the driving lessons and let go of any distractions.

Don’t be on an empty stomach

An empty stomach won’t do you any good, so make sure you have something light before your lesson. Skipping meals has been found to increase anxiety.

You may also practice some visualization or deep breathing techniques before your test as these will instantly help relax your body and mind.

Why not book your first driving lesson with us? Our driving school in Tempe offers defensive driving classes so you can stay safe on the road from the get-go.

Get in touch with us!

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