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

EPISODE · Apr 15, 2026 · 19 MIN

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

from Hope Not Nope · host Hope Not Nope

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 competitionArousal reappraisal: turning anxiety into excitementHow preparation builds confidence and reduces fearSelf-talk strategies to stay calm and focusedStaying process-focused instead of outcome-focusedPractical tools: movement, visual reminders, and emotional steadinessIf 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 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠HERE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Watch us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Visit our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Want to help share the message of Hope with others? One big way to help is by sharing this episode with friends and leaving a rating and review.

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 competitionArousal reappraisal: turning anxiety into excitementHow preparation builds confidence and reduces fearSelf-talk strategies to stay calm and focusedStaying process-focused instead of outcome-focusedPractical tools: movement, visual reminders, and emotional steadinessIf 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 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠HERE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Watch us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Visit our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Want to help share the message of Hope with others? One big way to help is by sharing this episode with friends and leaving a rating and review.

NOW PLAYING

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

0:00 19:51

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

No similar episodes found.

No similar podcasts found.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of Hope Not Nope?

This episode is 19 minutes long.

When was this Hope Not Nope episode published?

This episode was published on April 15, 2026.

What is this episode about?

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...

Can I download this Hope Not Nope episode?

Yes, you can download this episode by clicking the download button on the episode player, or subscribe to the podcast in your preferred podcast app for automatic downloads.
URL copied to clipboard!