In case you needed even more motivation to play video games, studies say that people who play action video games show an up to 25 percent speed increase in decision making when compared to people who do not play.
You can also look at a sequence of numbers and try to memorize them. Then, see how long you can remember the numbers and write them back down correctly. Pick your friends’ and family members’ phone numbers so you can work on your reflexes and memorize their contact information at the same time.
Try playing some online games where you have to make quick decisions. The timer in these games will force you to think faster in order to maintain a high score.
Another way to practice speed reading is to glance through a page and mark out a single letter at a time. So, take a pencil and cross out every “a” on a single page. Do the same with other letters until you feel your speed increasing. Remember to erase the marks when you’re done if others want to enjoy the book!
The benefits of this step are often not viewable to the naked eye and are measured in milliseconds of difference. However, for athletes in particular, shaving down even small amounts of time can have a positive effect.
Reminding yourself that you are in control can also lower the possibility of mistakes born out of nervousness, such as jumping the starting line.
You can also combine this with other speed exercises too. For example, if you are playing a video game, minimize the distractions in your room so that you can focus.
You can also discuss eye agility training with a sports vision specialist. To find a doctor near you, go to the American Optometric Association’s website and do a doctor search. [7] X Research source
If you grab the card near the bottom, you likely have good reaction speed. If you grab the card near the top or miss it completely, you may have poor reaction speed. [8] X Research source
Give juggling a try. The balls flying through the air forces you to think and act quickly to catch them. Practicing regularly can decrease your response time and increase your speed, and give you a great party trick too. [11] X Research source You can also use a reaction ball. This small, six-sided ball will move in unpredictable ways when bounced or thrown.
For example, try weaving through the spaces between each cone on your first run. In your second run, weave through every other space.
You can also try balancing things on your head or your fingertip. This will train you to continuously adjust your balance so that you don’t drop the item.
If you are not used to exercising, work your way up with shorter simpler exercises. Start with a 15 to 30-minute walk, then move on to jogging or swimming.
Conversely, drinking alcohol or using illegal substances can slow your reaction speeds down.
How much sleep you need will depend on your personal needs. Typically, this will be between 7 and 9 hours. Don’t get too much sleep either. If you wake up early, then go and start your day. Sleeping in can make your body and mind sluggish.
This also goes for energy drinks as well. Don’t ditch the coffee only to replace it with a canned energy drink.
This is an especially important step to follow if you are about to drive a motor vehicle. Even in good conditions, you’ll want to have sharp reflexes. Don’t get discouraged if you can’t change your medications at all. By working on your mental and physical agility, you can still improve your reflexes.
