3 ways to overcome your fear of mathematics

So if you have fear of mathematics, how do you overcome that fear and tackle it confidently? Adopt these suggestions:

Change your mindset: Mindset is a habitual way of thinking. When you have a constant notion about a thing for a long time, it becomes true in your eyes with time. It is not true that people are born with brains suited for mathematics. So the first step at alleviating the fear of math is to believe that you are capable of understanding and solving mathematics. It will provide a starting motivation to gear you towards success.

2.Don’t stereotype: Most often, females think males are designed to perform well at mathematics than them. It is not true. Everyone can become good at math through practice and study. Even your teachers don’t know everything in mathematics. There are great female mathematicians who are contributing significantly to the development of the world. How did they get there, there didn’t stereotype but worked hard. You can too!

3.Take your time: Studying mathematics is not magic. Don’t expect to understand everything you study on the first try. People get discouraged when they are not able to understand a topic on their attempt. It is important to take your time. Monitor the rate at which you are able to absorb the material and the amount of information you can understand in one sitting. Once you find out, you study based on your findings. Solving a mathematics problem fast doesn't mean you are a math ‘shark’. You can even make mistakes. So take your time.

4.Practice constantly: “Practice makes perfect “has proven to be effective over the years. Doing something over and over again releases a hormone called dopamine and makes you feel good. So as you study mathematics and solve questions always, you will get used to it and do it with ease. Once you start studying, you should be able to approach your classmates or teachers to help you where you are struggling.

Prince Afram

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