Most people become pretty adept at their chosen game eventually, but given the choice, they’d rather that it happened sooner rather than later. After all, it’s just simply more enjoyable to have confidence in your performance levels.
Happily, how quickly you’re able to increase your performance levels is within your control, at least to some degree. While there’ll always be varying factors at play, there are also a host of things that anyone can do that should nudge their abilities in the right direction. Let’s take a look at how you can go from noob to master in no time at all.
Read Up On Common Errors
In many cases, it’s what you do that counts, but what you don’t do. Avoiding the common errors routinely committed by newcomers to your chosen game will help to improve your performance, for the sheer reason that you won’t actively be making your performance worse. This is especially recommended if you’re learning to play a game that’s widely referenced in popular culture, such as poker or chess. You might have seen some big bluffs or bold plays in movies featuring those types of games, but that doesn’t mean it’ll work in real life!
Take Advice From the Experts
You can’t expect to possess all the skills you need to succeed in your game when you first start playing. But you can understand what those skills are, and then begin actively working towards improving your abilities and incorporating them into your gameplay. One effective way to do that is to take advice from players who have already completed the journey that you’re about to embark on. By taking the time to read recommendations from elite players in the world of poker or learning the opening chess moves from grandmasters, players can understand what it takes to succeed at a high level. They may not be at that level yet, but by nurturing skills and setting high standards, they can put themselves on the right path.
Understand Your Performance
Everyone has good and bad days playing their favourite games. That’s just part of being competitive. Whether you have a killer performance or one you’d rather forget, it’s recommended to spend some time assessing what went right and what went wrong. In doing so, you’ll identify the parts of your game that need work. You might also find some solace even if things didn’t all go your way if you realise that you’re improving in one aspect of your game. You’ll learn more from your tough days than when everything goes your way, so don’t get disheartened if your performance isn’t of the standard you were hoping for. It might be just what you need to push forward.
Mix Up Your Opponent
You can learn some things by playing against the same people all the time, but you can learn much more by playing against a variety of opponents. By mixing up your opponent, you’ll help to diversify your skill sets, learn more about your strengths and weaknesses, and just generally have to stay on your guard and dig deep. To use the chess and poker analogy again: while people often enjoy playing against friends and family members, it’s usually when they play online against other levels that they understand their true level and where they need to improve. However, players should keep in mind that it’s best not to play against opposition that is too superior; nothing will kill confidence quicker than getting crushed!
Create the Right Environment
Finally, remember that your performance levels will often depend on the environment in which you play. Playing at a cluttered desk in an overly noisy space, for instance, will likely result in reduced performance. You can subtly increase your chances of success by creating the right environment for your gameplay. For example, investing in a comfortable chair, ensuring the space is clean and organised, and listening to music/sounds that have been designed specifically to enhance concentration.
