We all reach a point where we don’t seem to be improving no matter how we try to get better at a particular game. This is something everyone will have to deal with at some point, even professionals will feel this way in their careers. Instead of doing the same thing over and over with no changes in the results, try out these 7 strategies that will help you get better at gaming.
Ensure The Set Up Is Optimal
This is something many people overlook, but it is extremely important as a gamer will perform the best when they feel most comfortable. The first thing to check is your desk space and the height of the monitors. Do you have enough space to move your mouse around on your mousepad, and are the monitors the optimal height for your eyes? These are essential things to consider as they may hinder your performance without you knowing.
Other things to look out for include the brightness of your monitors. They might be too dark, and therefore you aren’t seeing everything as clearly on the screen as everyone else. If they are too bright, then you may find your eyes becoming easily strained, stopping you from practicing your favorite game for long periods of time. Lastly, make sure all of the settings you are using on the game are appropriate for you. You might find that you are playing on a mouse sensitivity that is way too high and reducing your accuracy in-game. Your keyboard preferences may also be preventing you from being able to hit all the right keys at the right time so take a look to see if any improvements can be made.
Keep Your Focus
Keeping your focus whilst gaming is easier said than done. If you find yourself performing badly, it is easy to become distracted with frustration reducing your overall gaming skills. By keeping a cool head in stressful and sometimes infuriating situations, you will be able to control your emotions and think more logically. Not letting emotions affect your decision-making is a key skill to have for any gamer looking to improve and play consistently well.
Learn From Others
As with most skills, learning from the best is never a bad idea. There is a reason they have become known as one of the best at that particular game, so listening and watching how they play to pick up some tips is a great idea. You might find that you have been playing a certain way that is not optimal at all, and instead of having to figure that out yourself, you have all of the answers right in front of you.
From strategies to mechanics, you can learn a lot just by watching someone that is good at gameplay for hours on end. Even professional players admit to watching colleagues play to get some inspiration in the game they are playing to see if they can elevate their performances.
Practice Makes Perfect
If you are learning to play the piano, ski, or pick up any skill, including becoming better at a video game, then practicing is crucial. There is no shortcut to becoming better at something without any practice. Put in the hard work, and it will pay off. Even when you aren’t playing a game, you can replay scenarios in your head and figure out what you could do better next time, and learn from your mistakes. Actively trying to improve is key whilst practicing as you need to be able to recognize what you did wrong and what you should do differently the next time.
Knowledge Is Power
Knowledge is power, and it is no different in gaming. The more you can understand how a game works, the better you will be able to grasp the concepts and master the mechanics. Gaining others’ opinions and perspectives is a great idea whilst trying to improve at a game as you can figure out what information is useful and what is not so much. If you don’t try to learn more, you will have a hard time improving by just passively playing the game over and over.
Stay Healthy
Being able to play a video game for long periods of time without fatigue is something that is very important for those trying to become better gamers. Staying both physically and mentally healthy will help you to focus on improving and having enough energy to power through a hard gaming session. People think that you don’t need to be healthy to play video games, but a huge part of gaming is having fast reaction times and being able to think logically under stressful situations. These are all things that are improved by having a healthy state of mind and body.
Remember To Take Time Off
We all feel burned out at some point, and it is no different with gaming. If you find yourself constantly frustrated by the game you are playing, take some time off. You will do yourself no good by jumping right back into another game if you haven’t reset your mindset. Take time off to help your brain to relax and calm down. Try taking a walk and coming back to the game, and you will notice a huge difference in your attitude and performance.