This week really reminded me of how much starting from what feels like scratch can suck. Moments arise that look like progress, but the very next is regression. The thing about progress is that it’s so slow we hardly notice it. I’ve also given some thought to the idea of my current gear and its impact on my progress.
No Montages in Real Life
Montages are a popular story-telling device that allows a long period of time and growth to flash by in a moment. Arguably the most notable montage in history is Rocky running through the streets, punching meat, and finally ascending the stairs at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Unfortunately, real life doesn’t have as simple of a device to consolidate months of hard work into a few minutes of a catchy beat and video clips showing steady improvement.
Another challenge of real life training is how quickly progress can recede. In this case, I’ll use running as my point of reference. As a long time runner, I can usually knock out a few miles with little trouble; this is largely because I try to keep up with at least a few runs per week. After a few weeks off, a run today was not only tough but much slower than previous times.
This doesn’t just apply to physical talents, but mental ones. There are times I’ll take a break from puzzles like sudoku, only to come back and struggle on easy puzzles. It’s important to keep certain skills sharp and talents honed for whenever we may need them.
Mindfulness in Training
One of the biggest takeaways I’ve found thus far is the need to be focused. Coming back to running, I can usually let my mind wander and explore ideas as they arise on a run without impacting my pace. While aim training, it’s not quite as lenient.
There were a number of sessions this past week that I’d complete a good round, only to get caught up in the success and just fall apart in the next round. Not focusing on the task at hand tended to have a pretty clear correlation with my performance.
Focus is something I still need to work on, even after weeks of environment tuning.
Gear or Skill
The last thing I’ve considered after starting training is buying a new mouse. For most things, I tend to be able to work with what I have, but there are some things in life that I find the extra investment really is worth it.
Several years ago, I worked in a shoe store. My boss would (semi) joke with customers that “you should invest in a good mattress and good shoes, because when you’re not in one, you’re in the other.” It’s something I can attest to, the latter especially. Once again circling back to running, it’s amazing what a good pair of running shoes can do for pain and injuries.
Regarding my current aim training, there are a lot of moments when I feel tension in my hand and wrist from gripping my mouse intently for so long. Even consciously trying to relax doesn’t fix the problem, as the pain is caused by my attempts to control my movements quickly. My options are slow down or change strategy.
Long gaming sessions have enough moments of downtime and relaxation that allow me to ease up on my grip. While aim training, I try to move through the challenges pretty quickly so I’ll only take a few seconds of breaks between each round.
With this in mind, I’m considering trying some different mice to see what works best for me. If you have any recommendations, feel free to let me know in the comments!
Trying Out Before Buying In 