As every Gamer will know, the secret to success and getting in ahead of your opponent is reaction time and a reaction time of even a millisecond quicker can make the difference. But what is reaction time, what does it mean and what is the secret weapon to improving it to dominate your game?
We see an opponent, we react and the speed at which we do that is known as our reaction time.
Our reaction time is determined by the response from our central nervous system and its billions of nerve cells or neurons. The neurons are responsible for transporting the signals to your brain and your brain then produces its physical or mental response.
The good news is that reaction time, unlike reflexes which are not processed via the brain, can be improved by taking simple steps.
If you’re going to get fast, you’re going to have to practice, practice, practice.
Keeping your brain active with different scenes and challenges is always a good idea and regular repetition is important too.
The more scenes that you can play out, the more habits that you develop from them.
The brain can then become familiar and when that happens, it is able to create an almost automatic response for the next time.
It can be difficult for those with busy lifestyles to ensure adequate and proper nutrition and even for those who are able to make the effort, soil depletion and other factors can impact on the quality of the food that we eat.
In addition, as a Gamer, you will be needing sustained energy, mental clarity, sharp focus and reaction times in addition to sharp vision and a calm mental state.
Gaming supplements can help with all of this and we would recommend choosing a product which is as natural as possible.
We recommend avoiding caffeine and recommend instead working to build your body naturally and sustainably.
Here at God Gamer, we offer a range of supplements to cover everything that a Gamer will need to sharpen their game. You can check out our most impactful brain boosting product: Mind Hack, below:
If you want to improve your reaction time then optimising your brain function is going to be essential.
Your diet is going to have to be able to provide key nutrients to both your brain and your spinal cord. You should aim for a balanced diet to include freshly prepared foods to provide adequate amounts of protein, fiber, carbohydrate and the correct fats.
Keeping yourself hydrated through the day is also key to brain health. You should be aiming for:
Processed foods, sodas and unhealthy snacks can in fact deplete your body of nutrition and so should be avoided where possible.
Did you know that by warming your hands, you could improve on your reaction time instantly! Heat encourages the molecules of the body to move more quickly. So whether you choose to rub your hands together, use a heat pad, warm them under your legs or hold a hot drink, warm hands are important for every Gamer.
Learning to breathe property and move purposefully is going to help you to produce a calm and measured approach to stress, so meditation, mindfulness and yoga can all be productive in improving your reaction time.
Working out at the gym or in fact regular exercise, even for as little as 1 hour per week has been shown to positively increase reaction time. Incorporating rapid fire bursts of movement into your routine has been further shown to impact reaction time as you are training your body to react and respond quickly to both types of movement.
A sport such as tennis can also help improve reaction time as it encourages focus and rapid re positioning to return the ball. It also exercises fields of both direct and peripheral vision.
Movement is important for a healthy body and hence healthy reactions so for those with a sedentary job or lifestyle should aim to move around at regular intervals.
Having a good amount of good quality, restful sleep will allow you to feel well rested and will allow your body to recharge.
For any sport, buying the best of what you can afford to do the job in hand is important. Your mouse, mousepad, keyboard, headset, chair and monitor are all part of your gear:
You can improve your gaming experience and hence speed by upgrading an old monitor. Look for a monitor with a faster speed, a high refresh rate and low response time.
You must however ensure that it is going to be compatible with your hardware as some of the upgrades may require you to have a more powerful computer.
Gaming keyboards have features and functions not normally associated with other keyboards.
Mechanical keyboards are helpful and some would say essential for speed and accuracy. Backlighting is also helpful for dim environments and also for the aesthetic appeal.
You can choose from a single color or RGB lighting. You can personalise some of the keyboards and there are options for multimedia and macro keys. Again, personal choice and budget will play a part. Consider also whether a wrist rest will allow you to use the keyboard more comfortably.
You will want your headset to allow you to become fully immersed in the game, cancelling all other sounds around you, distractions mean slower responses. Comfort is also going to be key so what works for one Gamer will not necessarily suit another.
Your seating position is important for your comfort and response time. Time taken to stretch too far or turn to see your screen will impact on your reaction time. You should be able to easily reach the mouse and keyboard easily and comfortably watch the screen.
This will help you avoid Gamers Wrist, eye strain and muscle aches.
Gaming mousepads tend to be designed to offer optimal movement of the mouse across the surface.
Not all mousepads are the same, some are thinner, some thicker and the gliding characteristics can be different, so shopping around might be key here to find the one that fits with your gaming style.
As with your other equipment, your mouse has to be a comfortable fit for you.
There is no one ‘best solution’ and what works well for one person may not work for another.
Everyone has a different grip preference for example and some may prefer a wireless mouse over a wireless version. Some may prefer flashy lighting and others may go more for function.
DPI or Dots Per Inch is the method used to measure the sensitivity of the sensor. A high DPI mouse would be more suited to those who make small controlled movements and for those who tend to make large sweeping movements, a lower value DPI may suit better.
If you're looking to get ahead of other gamers and get a boost, check out Mind Hack for a natural nutrient packed supplement that will propel your gaming performance: