During the season break, we've pulled out a bonus short from one of our early episodes. This one is from episode three, Why Talking to Yourself Isn't as Mad as It Seems.

The other area. That's been widely researched is at school and with school children. And in particular, In the subject of maths. And I thought that was a really good example because. I suspect that there'll be lots of people out there who, would relate to the idea that. They're going about their business and then they need to solve maths problem. Do a quick sum or a quick division. And suddenly find themselves for no apparent reason. Talking to themselves out loud. Through the maths problem. Yeah, I can relate to that. If I was thinking 33 times. Seven. What I would do is free time seven. But the one that carry the two. And then I'll carry on. I would have to talk myself through the. The maths. Equation. Whenever we are dealing with maths. Yeah. That's how I used to do it and just. Almost becomes like a song. That you just do duh duh duh duh duh. And it just makes sense to me to do it that way. Yeah. And I think, I think it's instinctive. I think lots of people when they come across a problem, we'll go, oh, okay. And they will start talking to themselves out. So, so it was not a sign of madness is something that we do instinctively. And I think we should be encouraging people to. Do it consciously. Rather than unconsciously, rather than unconsciously. Brilliant. So let's talk about bringing this to, uh, relate to it more to drive in. And, um, some of the situations that I have is where I get people to. Commentate on driving. On what they can see. is that the same as self-talk. It is, I think it's a slightly more advanced self-talk though. So I would suggest that while people are getting used to this, they talk themselves through. I think I said parallel park earlier. Talk themselves through something like a parallel park or a particular round about. And. Talking more about the actual, what they need to do. So the, you know, your speed, your position and all of those things that I can't really talk about because I'm not driving instructor. Just what I've picked up from you. so really talking to themselves, those things, but then I guess as somebody who's driving advances, then the self-talk can advance as well. So they can, expand their self-talk past. The nuts and bolts of drive in. Into the wide arena of driving. Because it means that they are. I'm unconsciously doing a task. Which leaves them they can do. Frees up space. To be able to do something else. Yeah, absolutely. Freeing up the attention. to focus on other areas. I'm talking of attention when you are using that sort of private speech. Self-talk what you're doing is you're using up your attentional space. To focus your attention purely on what you're doing. And that's one of the benefits of self-talk. Because you're not leaving room. for negative thoughts and worries, So you're, you really are ring-fencing your attention into what you're doing. So you're literally just telling yourself to do a task. Yeah. So if I was approaching a junction to turn left, You know, thinking early on in the driving lessons. So you would get them to. What they would tell you, which mirrors. they were checking they would tell you. signal they going to put on? They would tell you what position they're going to be in. What speed they want to be doing? gear they are going to select and when they're going to turn. Yeah. So it's a very much a process. Of how they talk to themselves. Focused on the task. Rather than the. What happened? What's going to happen here. someone might pull out. They're thinking more of the task. Well, rather than. Outside of what might happen. Yeah. Okay. Um, they might include those observations of all what's. That red car doing. So rather than worrying about things that might happen, that they can't see keeping it within the realms of what is actually happening right now. And what I'm hearing as well is. It's a good idea too. Practice this on a new task. So when we're driving and we go into. I think turning left. I've just mentioned, but now we're going to turn right. So a new task, something slightly different, but still going through that self-talk of how to do the task. Yeah, and I think I would imagine. That if you've just been discussing that you, as an instructor in your student, You've just been discussing how to tackle this new task. So it sort of makes sense to then talk yourself through it as a reminder. Of exactly what you two just been talking about. Before you were doing. So I know it helps me. As an instructor. Teacher. Because they're actually telling me. What they're doing. And when they're doing it. So I can actually. Watch what they're doing more intently. Because what I'm doing is I'm not focusing on, are, they're going to do something. It actually gives me a better. Sense of security in knowing what they're doing. But a lot of people. Think they can't do this on. A driving test. Okay, well, you're the expert you tell me. Can you do it on a drive test? Say, I think you can. And a lot of people will go to a driving test saying, I can't do this. Because it's a driving test. Now. I believe. When we're doing. Talking through. Phrase it that way, rather than self talk talking through is the way. I phrase it. They just talk them through a task. And if you're talking yourself through a task, the way that you know how to do it, It helps. Calm the nerves. And it also gives you the confidence, knowing that you're doing something. at specific times. at a specific place. What they're worried about. Is that the. Examiners going to think. they are mad. We've we've talked about that already. Yeah. But then we're also talking about. What happens if they forget something they are telling, the examiner they've. They've missed some things. They just get marked down for it. how would that then. Make them feel, I suppose I've just answered your own question as well. I guess, like, just think of the task. Yeah. Think of the task and talk yourself through the task. Isn't it? Yeah. And that's what they should be doing. Sure. This is what they can do. Yeah. And. I mean, my advice would be that if you find. that you, you know, it's helpful to talk yourself through specific tasks. In your lessons, then don't stop doing that. For your driving test, because then you're changing your own routine. You're changing your own patterns. So do what you always do. I know if you're feeling self-conscious about it. Tell the examiner. That's what you're going to. I'm. Pretty sure that if you always talk yourself through a parallel park, And you're asked to do a parallel park. Then. I think it's absolutely fine to say. I always talk myself through these, so I don't forget what to do. And there's nothing wrong with that at all. Because that's just the way that you. Do a task. And I firstly think it actually shows confidence in yourself because you're just telling yourself what to do when to do it. And it makes it simpler for you, which is what it's all about. It's not pleasing other people. It's making the task easier for you.

I'm just gonna jump in here to let you know about our drive calm journal. We've created a 12 week prompt journal to support our listeners to take action and improve driving confidence. The journal includes questions, prompts, and exercises to create an action plan and an opportunity for reflection afterwards. Search drive calm on Amazon to take a look. We hope it helps.