Pre-Game Anxiety: How to Turn Nerves Into Better Performance

About this episode

This episode explores how to reframe pre-game anxiety into excitement to enhance performance.

Feeling nervous, nauseous, or anxious before a big game or performance? Pre-performance anxiety is common, but what if those nerves could actually improve your performance? In this episode, we break down arousal reappraisal — the science of reframing anxiety as excitement — and how preparation, self-talk, and staying steady can help you perform at your best when the pressure is highest. In this episode, we cover: Why pre-game nausea and anxiety happen before competition Arousal reappraisal: turning anxiety into excitement How preparation builds confidence and reduces fear Self-talk strategies to stay calm and focused Staying process-focused instead of outcome-focused Practical tools: movement, visual reminders, and emotional steadiness If you struggle with nerves before competition, presentations, or high-pressure moments, this episode will help you stay calm, reframe anxiety, and perform with confidence . - If you have a question you want answered, Submit it ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠HERE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Watch us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Visit our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Want to help share the message of Hope with others? One big way to help is by sharing this…

People in this episode

Host: Hope Not Nope

Topics covered

• pre-performance anxiety
• arousal reappraisal
• self-talk strategies
• confidence building
• performance improvement
• emotional steadiness

Keywords

• anxiety
• performance
• nerves
• excitement
• self-talk
• preparation
• confidence

More episodes of Hope Not Nope

• Do Peptides Help ACL Healing? What the Research Actually Shows · June 10, 2026 · 28 min
• First Triathlon Training: Pool vs Open Water Swimming · June 3, 2026 · 22 min
• Can You Throw a Football With a Torn Rotator Cuff? What You Need to Know · May 27, 2026 · 22 min
• How Doom Scrolling Impacts The Nervous System · May 20, 2026 · 29 min
• How to Run Faster Without Back Pain · May 13, 2026 · 23 min
• Does Positive Self-Talk Actually Work? How to Use It for Performance · May 6, 2026 · 23 min