Taking a driving test really shouldn’t be that big of a deal. However, for a lot of people, it’s a stressful event. The problem with stress is that it can impair your reflexes and your decision-making, both of which are pivotal while commandeering the vehicle. In other words, other than just adjusting to driving, you need to learn how to mentally prepare for the pressure of taking this test. Thankfully, institutions like DriverZ Georgia offer guidance and training to not only improve your driving skills but also to manage the anxiety that might accompany the test. While this shouldn’t be too difficult, to begin with, here are several tips to help you out.
- Compare yourself to others
The best way to explain this situation is to recall a famous quote by Charles Morse: “What one man can do; another can do.” Try to remember people in your closest social circle who are drivers. Are they all smarter and more capable than you? Then, try to remember some of the people who made the worst driving blunders in history. Almost all of these people have passed their driving test. Sure, failing a test, for whatever reason, is not the end of the world, you can try again and book your test easily through driving test cancellation. However, if all of them managed to pass, then so will you.
- Understand that you’re ready
You’re as ready as it gets. Just think about it. If you were to pass a driving lesson today, tomorrow you would be able to drive without any obstacles. So, what’s going to change so radically between today and tomorrow? Understand that a passed driving test isn’t going to make a difference in your knowledge or your driving skills. It’s just validation by a regulated organization. So, if you know you have the knowledge and the skills necessary to sit behind the wheel, you should understand that the very concept of the test is rather symbolic. As such, it’s nothing to be afraid of.
- Think about this during driving lessons
You need to start thinking about your driving test as early as your driving lessons. If you have any doubts or questions, now’s the right time to address them. The best way to do so is to roleplay that you’re taking a driving test every time you sit behind a wheel. This way, you can see how well you would do and actively try to improve. Even if you make a mistake, this is not a reason for panic. This is not a real test, which means that you didn’t fail. You’ve seen a potential mistake and you will not repeat it again. It’s a safe driving test simulation.
- Relax the night before
A lot of people are so nervous that they try to cram as much knowledge as the night before. First of all, the rules of the traffic and all the related laws aren’t that hard to memorize. It will take several days of extensive study at best. You are also supposed to know all of this by heart by the time you sit behind the wheel. This is why you should organize so that your last night before the test is your night off. Try to unwind by doing something else. Watch your favorite movie, spend some time with your friends (without any alcoholic beverages), and generally try to relax.
- Prepare physically
There are several things you need to do to physically prepare for the driving test. First, you need to get enough sleep the night before. This might seem kind of hard, given the fact that you’re already under a lot of stress. However, you need to understand that this can make a difference in your responsiveness and decision-making process tomorrow. Also, don’t skip meals and try to follow your regular daily routine as faithfully as you can. If you drink coffee every morning, you should do so. If you exercise when you wake up, make sure not to skip it.
In conclusion
In the end, it’s all about putting things in the right perspective. Here, you need to mentally prepare for what lies ahead and understand that, while specific, this situation is not unique. Millions of people have taken this test and passed it successfully. Millions more have failed the first time and made up for it on their second go. In other words, there’s nothing to fear. The best piece of advice you can receive is to start thinking about this ahead of time. This way, a shift in perspective will come gradually.