5 Hacks to help you relax in math class

You know what makes freaking out about math scary? Feeling like you’re the only one freaking out! Guess what tho? Everyone freaks out sometimes, especially when it comes to math. Freaking out is just a part of life, and it won’t last forever — the trick is to learn to deal when it happens. These 5 hacks are straight from my book 𝑀𝒶𝓉𝒽 𝐻𝒶𝒸𝓀𝓈 (you know, the one I was freaking out about basically the ENTIRE time I was writing it:)

Body Scan

Take a deep breath, close your eyes & focus on the sensations of each of your body parts. Start with your toes and go all the way to your head! Follow these steps:

1. Close your eyes. (Don’t worry, no one is looking at you . . . they’re all busy freaking out over their own stuff!)

2 . Picture your toes. Think about them until you can feel them.

3. Do the same with your knees.

4. Keep moving up your body, thinking about each part until you get to your head.

5. Open your eyes. Do you feel floatier and calmer?

6. Now keep on writing your test, or try that homework question, or whatever!

7. You can thank me later.

Sharing is caring

Don't bottle your math freakout up - tell someone! Tell a teacher, your accountant, or talk to a friend. You'll feel better once you say it out loud, and you’ll likely find out that you’re not alone! Talking things out can lead to solutions you may never have thought of before, so try it!

Take a brain vacay

When your brain is stuck it can’t work like it normally does. Sometimes we’re so focused on some tiny detail of a math problem that we just can’t see the bigger picture. Go for a walk, take a shower, play with your cat — do anything as long as your mind gets a mini-vacation before getting back to work.

Start a math journal

Get yourself a notebook that you love & a cool pen and get writing! Writing can be super cathartic, and writing about your rocky relationship with math is no different. Tracking your math freakouts will help you both release AND record the highs and lows of your relationship with math, and who knows, you might even spot some patterns or come up with coping skills to help you through your next math meltdown!

Tap into your zen

Try to be patient and remember that not understanding is a key part of learning. Just because you don’t get something the first time, or just because you forget how to solve a problem you knew how to tackle once upon a time, that doesn’t mean that you’ll NEVER be able to do it. Math is a journey, not a destination. And so is learning! If you already knew everything, life would be sooo boring!

If you found these 5 hacks useful, you’re in luck! For more math hacks, order 𝑀𝒶𝓉𝒽 𝐻𝒶𝒸𝓀𝓈 + Pre-order 𝑀𝒶𝓉𝒽 𝐻𝒶𝒸𝓀𝓈 𝟚 on either Amazon or Chapters!