Focus and Performance during Averages

[JLarsen]

So I started college recently and there is a period of time between two classes about an hour and a half long. The drive there is about 20 minutes so I've always gone home during this time, but in an attempt to save some gas money I tried to stay and keep myself entertained. Of course, I brought along my cubes. Class got out and I found a nice spot outside in the sun. I just used good old hand scrambles and my stackmat, and the times were surprisingly good! I had a period of maybe 20+ solves where I didn't break the 15.99 mark. If I were to guess I was probably averaging in the neighborhood of 14.5 or so. At home sitting in this chair I probably average around 15.5 give or take. So I was trying to think of the factors that made the solves faster.

- Less pressure? None of the solves were actually being documented so it really was just me passing time with the cube.

- Different environment? It was super sunny outside, maybe 80 degrees out. Now this spot was pretty far off from other people, which was intentional, but it was unavoidable that a few people pass by. I was a little weary to solve near other people - I get nerves pretty bad, and we all know how those public reactions to cubing go. I'm not a fan. It had this effect though where the occasional walker by would keep me constantly aware of people going by me, and generally really alert. Almost excited? It was like I wanted to perform well for the potential spectators I would run into, but at the same time I wasn't so much on the spot that I had stage fright or nerves of the sort.

I've never really bothered to dive into any factors to my performance other than raw basics like turning speed, efficiency, look ahead, etc. before. I'm trying an average right now, and I'm trying to take a lot more time in between the solves instead of just grinding them out. I feel like I just tend to space out and just kind of drone on while doing back to back solves.

Does anyone else have similar experiences? What kind of factors affect your solve times in what way? Is there a particular environment or set of circumstances that make you solve really well? Mixing things up? Your thoughts etc.

 

[RyanReese09]

I perform well in my room, away from everyone. No pressure, noone watching. It's perfect.

When people watch me, especially those I know, I get pressured to do well, and normally fail.

 

[bluecloe45]

I find that when i'm inside on a nice day, and the air conditioning is on, I cube worse because my hands aren't warm. I also get better times outside when my hands are warm.

 

[JLarsen]

I feel like I pressure myself. No one in my family watches so I don't have that pressure. I do well at the beginning of averages. Like recently I've been starting off averages with crazy times like sub 14 averages and low 14s for the first 5, and then once I start caring I make it worse.

Edit: Average of 12 done over the course of maybe 20 minutes; 15.30

Average of 12 done nonstop; 15.52

Not really enough of a difference to pin anything on that. I'm really swaying towards the adrenaline rush of solving in "public" for the first time in years and expecting big scenes.

 

[uberCuber]

I feel like I pressure myself. No one in my family watches so I don't have that pressure. I do well at the beginning of averages. Like recently I've been starting off averages with crazy times like sub 14 averages and low 14s for the first 5, and then once I start caring I make it worse.

I feel exactly the same way

 

[Jungleterrain]

I feel like I cube better in my room, too. I don't know why, but I guess because it's simply relaxing, no worrying about breaking a PB, no pressure. I just get into a natural rhythm when that happens. I feel like my lookahead gets better, too. I'm a CFOP user.

 

[Rpotts]

The worst thing i can do for an average is realize that I'm about to roll a bad solve. I'm trying to pay less and less attention to the average as it's progressing, and just check it all after many solves, to keep the pressure down.

 

[caseyd]

I listen to music so i cant really hear myself think and pressure myself, lol and turning to the beat of crazy fast punkrock helps tps
and ryan yeah pressure's on, 0/12 multiblind, still gotta give props for trying

 

[5BLD]

When I cube in public, I can't concentrate and I turn too fast and forget to look ahead...
Yet, I found that I always do better when im not consciously concentrating, i.e. being completely calm. I think this is what happened in your situation. Having a nice, relaxed atmosphere.
I personally like to cube outside when it's sunny in my garden while listening to jazz on my phone (don't comment on my taste in music anyone). I basically go into a daydream and just solve. That gives the turn style blockbuilders need in my opinion. Then on the mooing I suddenly focus and increase turn speed, like just don't hold back and turn as fast as you can while staying relaxed.
Trouble is, a crucial lock up on the middle of a CMLL alg, and you're screwed (hence the DNF in my avg8 video).

I've been experimenting with staying calm or going on full concentration mode. It's intersting to analyse the results.

 

[caseyd]

I would try to do that but the problem is im still improving at a decent rate, and still inconsistent, so that it wouldn't be a good evaluation for me

 

[Vinny]

For some reason, I always get my PBs on either the bus ride home or on the car ride to a competition. But the more I practice in one session, the worse I get. I usually need to stop at around 40 solves, because my times shoot up for some reason after that.

 

[caseyd]

lol yeah I would be doing casual solves on the couch around 8, times start shooting up lol hands too tired to speedcube

 

[RyanReese09]

and ryan yeah pressure's on, 0/12 multiblind, still gotta give props for trying

0/11*

Stupid 20 minute reviewing..stupid mistakes :-/

 

[caseyd]

I guess the whole dont think about it works, just got a 15.23 PB, pll skip, but it was still an awesome solve

 

[cuberkid10]

I really enjoy cubing outside on a warm, sunny day.

If I don't focus 100%, my solves will go everywhere. That's why I can't listen to music and cube at the same time. My mind will tend to wander.

 

[JLarsen]

That gives the turn style blockbuilders need in my opinion. Then on the mooing I suddenly focus and increase turn speed.

I don't do the daydreaming you're talking about but the rest of the description is spot on. I turn slowly and steadily during my blocks unless it's a real brute force/mindless solution, and then I turn as fast as I can without rushing myself. A good word for this would be objectivity. Don't factor in emotions or urges to do well or bad, just objectively be aware of what makes a solve fast, and channel all of your energy into focusing on that instead of OMG GOGOGGOO.

 

[a small kitten]

I can't move well if it's not warm and humid. I also have a pretty bad temper. Pressure is getting lighter as I go to more competitions and do more solves with people around me.

 

[Mike Hughey]

Don't underestimate the value of good light. Direct sunlight is a real improvement over indoor lighting, and even though it seems like vision is totally fine in a normal indoor environment, the difference in lighting can make a real difference by speeding up recognition.

For a cube, I'm sure it's not so much, but I suspect it's more than anyone thinks. For megaminx, of course, it can make a HUGE difference!

I seem to cube faster when it's warm too, but I hate feeling hot, so I'd rather be in a cold room even if it means I'm slower. I never want to attend an outdoor competition - call me weird, but I think that would be awful.