You have worked, studied, practiced, prepared and rehearsed. And all your hard work earned you a place on the podium at your State Leadership Conference. Now, HOSA National Leadership Conference is just around the corner; over 8,000 HOSA students, teachers, advisors and guests waiting to have the time of their lives. Here are eight tips to help you prepare and perform in your competitive event – with as little stress as possible!

1.  Get Moving
30-60 minutes of exercise daily will relieve stress and anxiety, put you in a better mood, and increase blood and oxygen flow to your brain, which can help you focus on the tasks at hand.

2. Go to Bed
Missing out on valuable hours of sleep may seem like a great way to get more work done, but it will have a negative impact on your ability to concentrate, recall information, and think critically. Aim for an average of 8 hours every night to put yourself in the best position to perform in your event.

3. Eat Breakfast
Studies have shown that students who skip breakfast can experience up to a 35% reduction in concentration, alertness and memory. Eat a low-sugar, protein-packed nutritious breakfast to give you energy and keep your brain operating at its best.

4. Avoid Caffeine
Caffeine is a stimulant, which makes you feel great for awhile but wears off to leave you sluggish and craving more. It also dehydrates you, which can cause headaches and hinder your critical thinking skills. Try slowly replacing your caffeine with water, and getting enough sleep, exercise, and good food. Your body will adjust and let you know what you need for optimal performance.

5. Focus on Your Strengths
If moments before game time you feel underprepared for a certain area of your event, try to turn your thoughts to the parts you know you have down. It will help boost confidence, shake off nerves, and ensure that you do not get flustered on something you should know.

6. Remember Judges (and Teachers) Want You to Do Well
The volunteers who run competitive events are not waiting around for you to make mistakes so they can pounce. These are people who love HOSA and love seeing committed students work hard and perform well. They're on your side.

7. Breathe
If you get stuck, take a few deep, slow breaths. Try not to panic-anxiety and stress will cloud your brain and make it even harder to come up with the right answer.

8. Enjoy the Finish Line
Once your event is over, it is over. For better or worse, you are finished and have done your best at that moment in time. Try to avoid over-analyzing your performance or comparing notes with friends. Enjoy all the rest that HOSA and Anaheim have to offer, and be sure to have a great week.

Congratulations to all the HOSA-Future Health Professional NLC competitors! See you in Anaheim!