5 ways to beat car parking anxiety forever.

The revving of the engine, the crunch of the gears. You can hear the honking and FEEL the accusing stares of the motorists waiting, and the pedestrians staring. It’s all going HORRIBLY WRONG. First the bump of a wheel up on the kerb, the car feels out of line and you just know you are NEVER going to get the car into that space - you might even bump a pillar or a car or...

You feel as if EVERYONE IS WATCHING and you just CAN'T do it right.

Parking can be a nightmare - quite literally - for thousands of us. Maybe you actually have nightmares about it, and feel a terrible dread it before you have to go somewhere.

You know what? It’s OK!

I have a simple, 5 step process for helping you to beat your car-parking anxiety FOREVER!

1 – ACCEPTENCE:

It's OK to be terrible at something! Make a list of all the things you're no good at, and to get you started. Here’s mine:

Swahili, Ice Skating, Riding Horses, Telling Jokes, Playing the Banjo

You know what? I don't care about these things. I can't do them, and it doesn't bother me in the slightest. Nobody is perfect and you will spend your whole life finding things that you can't do with ease, and the majority of them won't matter. So get used to it, and get over it! There will, however, be skills that don't come naturally to you BUT, having let go of the things that don't matter to you, you can focus your attention on mastering the things that do!

2 – STRATEGISE:

What’s your plan for getting better? No-one can improve unless they have a strategy, or are willing to abandon the obviously ineffective one they've been using. So, you need to work out what it is you're doing wrong and practice doing it right! If reverse parking isn't your thing (but you KNOW you need to be at least adequate at it), then find a quiet lane, a couple of cones to stand in for other vehicles and PRACTICE!

I suggest 10 times a day for 10 days - who wouldn't be at least more confident after 100 goes?

3 – MAKE IT EASY:

If you get stressed with parking, REMOVE that stress. If crowds make you nervous, go to the shops during off-peak times and don't be in a rush - leave yourself plenty of time to park AND shop. For example, parking in the far corner of your local superstore on a Sunday morning (and driving around the block between each go if you feel self conscious) would considerably reduce your tension and nerves.

4 – GIVE YOURSELF TIME:

Even if you get MUCH better you'll still feel some residue of those old feelings, as least for a while, so don't expect immediate perfection.

5 – VISUALISATION:

Before you try to park, pause. Take a moment to visualise each movement you, and by extension the car, are about to make. Breathe deeply. Be confident. And be ready to celebrate each successful manoeuvre - and give yourself a break if it doesn't go perfectly. Just remember Rule 1!

When you can park easily, imagine how much more energy you’ll have for all the other things you ENJOY doing?

How much more confident and happy will you be when you have this issue nailed?

So build up slowly - one victory at a time (even if it does begin in an empty park) and enjoy the journey - and the parking at the end!