The Welshman is a Cup rookie at Gleneagles despite him having many more years of experience than several of his Europe team-mates, three of which - Rory McIlroy, Martin Kaymer and Victor Dubuisson - are younger than 30.
United States have five players under that age mark, including Jordan Spieth, Rickie Fowler, Patrick Reed, Keegan Bradley and Webb Simpson.
Donaldson said his time taken to mature into a Ryder Cup player was a benefit, if anything, ahead of Friday's opening day in Scotland.
"I don't know if it's not quite sunk in, but I think because things have taken so long for me to get to this position, everything seems to slip more into my stride than maybe if I was 25, as opposed to 38," the three-time European Tour winner said.
"I don't get so wowed that I might have done if I was younger.
"It's just all the surroundings change, but the game still stays the same.
"So all I try and think about is my game and what I'm trying to do and where I want to hit the ball, and what line I want to hit the putt on, just like I would do every other week.
"It's just the whole surroundings change for each tournament."
Donaldson said he was wary of monitoring his energy levels throughout the week, with captain Paul McGinley able to call upon any one player for up to five matches.
However, Donaldson was also keen to atone for a loss to Thomas Bjorn on the team's table tennis table.
"I suppose you've got to conserve energy as much as you can and not get too involved or drifting away, but at the same time enjoy the experience," he said.
"The most important thing I think is saving energy and not overdoing anything and not playing too much table tennis.
"So it's just a case of enjoying all the surroundings, getting used to the environment and getting ready for Friday."
Donaldson, a winner in each of the past three seasons in Europe, said if he gets nervous, it will not be to the team's detriment.
"I've been nervous first tee in the Irish Open when I was leading. Hit good shots straight in the middle," he said.
"I think the first Open [Championship] I played in, I wasn't playing great and I was on the first tee and was a bit nervous then.
"I think I blacked out at the top of my backswing and then hit it straight in the middle of the fairway.
"As nervous as I've been on a golf course on the first tee, I've hit a really good shot. So I'm hoping that's very much the same this week."