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| Don.681 Philippines. July 12 2012 18:47. Posts 174 | Profile # |
I was waiting for a friend the other week when my phone ran out of battery. So I had nothing to do and no one to talk to all alone in McDonald's. Outside it was the typical noisy street of the Philippines and behind me were High School kids that were very noisy as well.
So, I looked at my wristwatch. It's an old Casio analog watch that I have worn for the past five years. I got this idea to watch the minute hand actually move from one line to another.
I expected it to suddenly pop from one line to the next when the second hand goes past 12-o-clock. But, after a few seconds I immediately noticed that it was slowly creeping from one line to another.
So I decided to watch that.
Damn it was hard. After a few seconds of just trying to keep my eye on my watch, I felt like my focus was immediately being dragged to look outside, or look at the people passing by, or look at the my cellphone. Which was stupid because it's dead.
After a few tries, I finally did it. I watched the minute hand go from 6:21 PM to 6:22 PM.
It felt like how it feels when you are past 20 minutes into an SC2 macro game, but minus the panic. You know that feeling where you just absolutely need to win the game in the shortest possible time because your getting tired and you cant keep up the macro so you just quit when something bad happens.
I immediately thought, maybe I can train to focus. So for the past week I have been staring at my watch when I'm waiting for someone (i am very punctual, my friends are not!) or commuting and don't want to play with my phone. I can now watch that minute hand for about 10 minutes without looking somewhere else. You actually "feel" the 10 minutes pass.
And, I feel that it helps me somewhat with SC2. Not really with the skills involved, but with just staying relaxed and not trying to finish the game as fast as possible. I have now sort of learned to just play without thinking to win but just "happen to win". When the game gets past 20 minutes, I can keep my composure better that my opponent.
So, how do you guys keep/train to be focused?
*Edit: Fixed 6:21 PM to 6:22 PMLast edit: 2012-07-15 16:33:11 |
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| graNite Germany. July 12 2012 18:59. Posts 1911 | Profile Blog # |
Have to try this^^, sounds very interesting and could work.
I play tabletennis.
When a new set begins, I close my eyes, take a deep breath, hold it for 2 seconds, then breathe out slowly. After that I try not to look at the bench where my teammates sit, nor at my opponent, just stare at the ball and start playing. |
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| Clarity_nl Netherlands. July 12 2012 19:00. Posts 3283 | Profile # |
I think it's just a life experience thing.
Problem solving helps a lot.
I play chess and solve tactical chess puzzles which I'm sure helps. |
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| iTzSnypah United States. July 12 2012 19:21. Posts 1222 | Profile Blog # |
| Play minesweeper on intermediate or expert. Once you get the gist of the game you don't really focus on it you focus past it. |
| | Team Liquid needs more Terrans. |
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| Beezleking Canada. July 12 2012 19:25. Posts 52 | Profile # |
On July 12 2012 18:47 Don.681 wrote:
After a few tries, I finally did it. I watched the minute hand go from 6:22 PM to 6:21 PM.
I hope this was meant to be the other way around. ^_^ |
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 Natespank Canada. July 12 2012 20:09. Posts 448 | Profile # |
You have actually reinvented meditation. Good work 
Another version, if you lack a wrist watch, is to count your breaths up to 10, and restart, while avoiding distractions.
If you want to learn more, google "zazen," which is zen meditation of the same type you described.Last edit: 2012-07-12 20:09:58 |
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| Morphs Netherlands. July 12 2012 20:33. Posts 645 | Profile # |
Like Natespank said, this is the idea of meditation: training your mind to focus on one thing and one thing only.
There are many meditation-techniques. When I learned Vipassana meditation we first had to practise Ānāpānasati meditation for 3 days, 10 hours a day just to train the focus of the mind. Ānāpānasati means 'mindfulness of breathing'.
It was pretty difficult to keep concentrated on the breathing only. You notice how easily the mind gets distracted. So many patterns that it wants to follow (check your phone every few minutes). |
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| -Kira July 12 2012 21:11. Posts 352 | Profile Blog # |
On July 12 2012 18:47 Don.681 wrote:
I was waiting for a friend the other week when my phone ran out of battery. So I had nothing to do and no one to talk to all alone in McDonald's. Outside it was the typical noisy street of the Philippines and behind me were High School kids that were very noisy as well.
So, I looked at my wristwatch. It's an old Casio analog watch that I have worn for the past five years. I got this idea to watch the minute hand actually move from one line to another.
I expected it to suddenly pop from one line to the next when the second hand goes past 12-o-clock. But, after a few seconds I immediately noticed that it was slowly creeping from one line to another.
So I decided to watch that.
Damn it was hard. After a few seconds of just trying to keep my eye on my watch, I felt like my focus was immediately being dragged to look outside, or look at the people passing by, or look at the my cellphone. Which was stupid because it's dead.
After a few tries, I finally did it. I watched the minute hand go from 6:22 PM to 6:21 PM.
It felt like how it feels when you are past 20 minutes into an SC2 macro game, but minus the panic. You know that feeling where you just absolutely need to win the game in the shortest possible time because your getting tired and you cant keep up the macro so you just quit when something bad happens.
I immediately thought, maybe I can train to focus. So for the past week I have been staring at my watch when I'm waiting for someone (i am very punctual, my friends are not!) or commuting and don't want to play with my phone. I can now watch that minute hand for about 10 minutes without looking somewhere else. You actually "feel" the 10 minutes pass.
And, I feel that it helps me somewhat with SC2. Not really with the skills involved, but with just staying relaxed and not trying to finish the game as fast as possible. I have now sort of learned to just play without thinking to win but just "happen to win". When the game gets past 20 minutes, I can keep my composure better that my opponent.
So, how do you guys keep/train to be focused?
Step 1 - stop eating the shit form McDonalds.
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| Drankme Denmark. July 12 2012 21:38. Posts 22 | Profile # |
On July 12 2012 18:47 Don.681 wrote:
After a few tries, I finally did it. I watched the minute hand go from 6:22 PM to 6:21 PM.
You watched time go backwards?
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| Animzor Sweden. July 12 2012 21:40. Posts 856 | Profile # |
On July 12 2012 21:11 -Kira wrote:
Show nested quote +On July 12 2012 18:47 Don.681 wrote:
I was waiting for a friend the other week when my phone ran out of battery. So I had nothing to do and no one to talk to all alone in McDonald's. Outside it was the typical noisy street of the Philippines and behind me were High School kids that were very noisy as well.
So, I looked at my wristwatch. It's an old Casio analog watch that I have worn for the past five years. I got this idea to watch the minute hand actually move from one line to another.
I expected it to suddenly pop from one line to the next when the second hand goes past 12-o-clock. But, after a few seconds I immediately noticed that it was slowly creeping from one line to another.
So I decided to watch that.
Damn it was hard. After a few seconds of just trying to keep my eye on my watch, I felt like my focus was immediately being dragged to look outside, or look at the people passing by, or look at the my cellphone. Which was stupid because it's dead.
After a few tries, I finally did it. I watched the minute hand go from 6:22 PM to 6:21 PM.
It felt like how it feels when you are past 20 minutes into an SC2 macro game, but minus the panic. You know that feeling where you just absolutely need to win the game in the shortest possible time because your getting tired and you cant keep up the macro so you just quit when something bad happens.
I immediately thought, maybe I can train to focus. So for the past week I have been staring at my watch when I'm waiting for someone (i am very punctual, my friends are not!) or commuting and don't want to play with my phone. I can now watch that minute hand for about 10 minutes without looking somewhere else. You actually "feel" the 10 minutes pass.
And, I feel that it helps me somewhat with SC2. Not really with the skills involved, but with just staying relaxed and not trying to finish the game as fast as possible. I have now sort of learned to just play without thinking to win but just "happen to win". When the game gets past 20 minutes, I can keep my composure better that my opponent.
So, how do you guys keep/train to be focused?
Step 1 - stop eating the shit form McDonalds.
Exactly what I was going to say, lol. That shit'll do you no good.
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| Jek Denmark. July 13 2012 00:37. Posts 110 | Profile Blog # |
I used to practice kendo so I learned zazen meditation, still do it on a daily basis as it helped my ability to concentrate in all sorts of matters. :-)
Besides mental training, being physical fit helps too.Last edit: 2012-07-13 00:38:11 |
| | http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=woOu_4l3lio |
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| Aoxer July 13 2012 00:42. Posts 44 | Profile # |
On July 13 2012 00:37 Jek wrote:
I used to practice kendo so I learned zazen meditation, still do it on a daily basis as it helped my ability to concentrate in all sorts of matters. :-)
Besides mental training, being physical fit helps too.
Kendo seems epic :D |
| | "No amout of macro will make marines beat banelings" |
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| LuxTerran United States. July 13 2012 10:26. Posts 3 | Profile # |
Really cool thought! I have often had problems going on tilt when losing games on the ladder and it effects my game play greatly because I lose focus.
One thing I do is be aware of what mindset I am in and prepare myself to adjust myself to the correct mindset. If I feel I am not in an optimal mindset I do things to adjust them for example, shower, eating, hanging out with friends, or going to the gym.
To have more consistent mindset I force myself into good habits that I know put me in good mindsets. Some include, being manner, talking to the opponent for advice, and analyze every game I play.
For me mindset is everything. My ultimate rival in life is myself. |
| | I dream to not only to compete with the best, but inspire the best. |
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| SC2John United States. July 13 2012 13:54. Posts 927 | Profile # |
I'm a musician, I've practically lived on stage and dealt with anxiety and stagefright and focus...all that jazz. I guess, for me, this is not such a huge issue in playing SC2. I think one of the most important things to do is just have a group of REALLY broad goals while playing and constantly run them through your head.
For instance, you can think "play faster, spend money" while playing every game. If you ever start to lose focus or feel bad about the game, just remember those principles you're shooting for. You can even write them on sticky notes and put them around your screen, kind of like positive reminders. Other goals can include "map vision, micro pushes, expand expand expand", etc.
Another thing that helps me a lot is trying to talk out loud what I'm thinking in a game. If you have a way to record yourself, I suggest you practice playing a game, talking through the build order, what information you scout, what you should do to respond. The more you practice this thought process out loud, the stronger it becomes in your head. This is kind of equivalent to a pianist practicing on a table; you're practicing the thought patterns and making sure you actually know them. |
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| Scurvy United States. July 13 2012 14:26. Posts 109 | Profile # |
| I have found that music helps me focus. Not listening to it, actually playing it. Even just screwin around on the piano before a match has helped me focus and calm down. |
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| Natespank Canada. July 13 2012 19:27. Posts 448 | Profile # |
There are many meditation-techniques. When I learned Vipassana meditation we first had to practise Ānāpānasati meditation for 3 days, 10 hours a day just to train the focus of the mind. Ānāpānasati means 'mindfulness of breathing'.
Could you elaborate on Vipassana meditation a little? I'm actually hoping to learn about other types than zazen over the next year. |
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