Cubing in the morning/when you first wake up

[puzzlegeek]

I've noticed that my times really suffer when I first start each day. Is this a normal thing that other cubers experience? Do you have any advice for how to get back to solving with the same success as yesterday? It's like I'll work really hard for hours one day, and my time will drop by like 5 seconds in my average, and I'll be so excited thinking I'm improving so much. Then, I'll wake up the next day, and my first five solves result in a horrible average.

I've also found I do really well at night time, rather than during the day. Have any of you noticed any of the same things, or has your cubing experience been different?

My theory is perhaps I need a slower cube to start out with every time I decide to start cubing to give my finger muscles time to "warm up". It's somewhat the same principle as giving a beginner speedcuber a fast cube. They can't handle it.

Just so you know, I'm not a sub-20 solver. I average about 30-35 seconds using CFOP because I just haven't figured out how to get consistent look ahead in F2L, and I only use 2 look OLL. I know full PLL, though.

My main 3x3s are the Aolong v2, the cubicle Hualong, and the Gans 357 as of now. But using a Yuxin Qilin helps me with look ahead and gives me more control in my solves. It's the one I generally try to pick up first. Either that or my QiYi Thunderclap.

What are your experiences with starting a fresh cubing session after sleeping, and how to you eliminate the period of sluggishness when you first start cubing if we share this experience?

 

[Torch]

I have the same problem most of the time. I can usually shake it off by solving a bigger cube like a 4x4 where turnspeed doesn't matter as much, then moving on to smaller cubes once I'm warmed up.

 

[Matt11111]

The first time I cube in the morning tends to have slightly worse times than my average. The more I practice on any given day, the better my times get.

 

[JustinTimeCuber]

pretty sure this happens to basically everyone but I could be wrong

 

[puzzlegeek]

I have the same problem most of the time. I can usually shake it off by solving a bigger cube like a 4x4 where turnspeed doesn't matter as much, then moving on to smaller cubes once I'm warmed up.

Going from larger cubes to smaller cubes does tend to make it easier for me to do smaller ones. It's kinda the same as using a slower 3x3 I think.

 

[Matt11111]

Going from larger cubes to smaller cubes does tend to make it easier for me to do smaller ones. It's kinda the same as using a slower 3x3 I think.

It is, basically.

 

[rjcaste]

This happens to me ALL THE TIME. I average different times depending on the time of day. In the night, I average about 14-15 seconds, in the morning like 18 seconds. I also feel like my lookahead is impaired in the morning, and also I feel like I mess up and lock up a lot more in the morning.

I'm pretty sure this happens to everyone.

 

[puzzlegeek]

The first time I cube in the morning tends to have slightly worse times than my average. The more I practice on any given day, the better my times get.

That's what I was hoping everyone would say. I hate that most competitions are at 8am. It doesn't really give me time to get the practice I need in. Plus, I always have to drive 4-6 hours just to get there.

 

[Ordway Persyn]

When you first wake up you are still sleepy and are not paying attention as well. I usually do untimed or big cube solves in the morning

 

[puzzlegeek]

pretty sure this happens to basically everyone but I could be wrong

I had the same suspicion, but I wanted to confirm it. Lol

 

[Sajwo]

You does not simply expect good times in the morning

 

[puzzlegeek]

You does not simply expect good times in the morning

Memeworthy. Put it with the walk into mordor meme XD

 

[puzzlegeek]

This happens to me ALL THE TIME. I average different times depending on the time of day. In the night, I average about 14-15 seconds, in the morning like 18 seconds. I also feel like my lookahead is impaired in the morning, and also I feel like I mess up and lock up a lot more in the morning.

I'm pretty sure this happens to everyone.

Look ahead and lock ups are apparently very common in the morning. I'm glad to see I'm not the only one.

 

[Walrusizer]

pretty sure this happens to basically everybody in basically everything

 

[Kudz]

All time! Repair next patch pls

 

[puzzlegeek]

pretty sure this happens to basically everybody in basically everything

I was just wondering because I had never asked any other cubers.

 

[maxcuber322]

My experience is the opposite, I tend to go to bed earlier in the evening so I feel refreshed in the morning. And I do feel refreshed in the morning, give me 20 minutes to get going and I'm getting sub-25 solves and in the evening I get 30-34 second solves ( I average 27 by the way ). Pretty much anytime before 3 pm I'm getting good solves. I think that I'm tired and have done all the energy draining things before 3 pm so I'm more tired

 

[Matt11111]

That's what I was hoping everyone would say. I hate that most competitions are at 8am. It doesn't really give me time to get the practice I need in. Plus, I always have to drive 4-6 hours just to get there.

Who knows how much better I'd do if comps started later?

 

[hamfaceman]

Memeworthy. Put it with the walk into mordor meme XD

no

 

[qwertycuber]

I seem to be the opposite. When I just woke up, my times are 1-2 seconds faster than afternoon/evening solves.