The Waiting Experiment...

[josh42732]

So I've heard that taking a break from cubing for a while and then doing an average sometimes gets you a PB. I average around high 19-23 seconds and will take a what seems like a long break from cubing. For 2 weeks, I will not touch any cube and then do an Ao12 and hopefully get sub-20. I haven't cubed for a whole week which is hard for me because even during school, I don't go for over an hour without doing a solve. Hopefully I will learn something from this and it will all be worth it!! I will post my average next week in this thread and hopefully get some PB's!!

 

[guysensei1]

. For 2 weeks, I will not touch any cube and then do an Ao12 and hopefully get sub-20.

This seems contradictory.

 

[josh42732]

This seems contradictory.

But from what people have said, they will take a break and then get a PB. I'm just testing this theory but I'm honestly cautious. I'm not sure if it will or will not work.

 

[JasonDL13]

I feel that this only really works for MBLD : P

Good luck anyway, but I really feel that it wont work.

 

[josh42732]

I feel that this only really works for MBLD : P

Good luck anyway, but I really feel that it wont work.

How would that work in MBLD? If you forget how to memo, and haven't trained your memory, how would you be faster than you were before? Then again why would my experiment work if you haven't trained for it. It sounds contradictory, but I am willing to give it a shot.

 

[Petro Leum]

i think you slightly misunderstood. after 2 weeks of no practice, your first solves will not be PB (actually, they mighg, but what are the chances?) you will have to do some solves and practice to get into it again, maybe even practice 1-2 days before the phenomenon will actually show. it's all about the different way you approach solving when youve cleared your mind from cubing (by taking the break), but that doesnt mean theres no need to catch up to where youve been and reenable those automatic processes that have been drilled so well before the break.

 

[Ickathu]

This phenomenon occurs when you take a break because you stop stressing about cubing. You can relax a bit, you don't worry about anything, etc. You probably won't get a PB right away, and there's nothing magical about 2 weeks. You'd probably be better off to take a day or two off each week where you don't worry about cubing at all.
As you said, if you stop training, you'll probably get worse.

 

[JasonDL13]

How would that work in MBLD? If you forget how to memo, and haven't trained your memory, how would you be faster than you were before? Then again why would my experiment work if you haven't trained for it. It sounds contradictory, but I am willing to give it a shot.

This works in MBLD (only with cube amounts up to like 10) because then you get to forget your last memorization and clear your mind. But this only happens if you do 1 attempt per day.

 

[DeeDubb]

i think this works if you take a break from Timed Solves, and just do untimed stuff when you're bored. Staying relaxed and not pushing the stress of timing your solves. I've noticed that can have a big impact on my times.

 

[s3rzz]

I know everyone is different but this helps in all aspects of life. That's why if you're burned out at work or can't seem to focus you're supposed to take some time off. Sometimes you need to clear your head and come back with new eyes.

 

[Smiles]

there's the probability that you break your PB after coming back from a break, and there's also the probability that you break your PB on any other day. i beat my PB much more often after NOT taking a 2 week break, but i have been able to beat it after a 2 week break as well. it's just that the surprise factor is there and makes me really notice it and makes me more happy about it. in general i don't think your chances go up when you're not practicing. your muscle memory deteriorates and your reflexes are slower.

HOWEVER, you also lose bad habits and have a fresher mind with better focus, especially because you focus on the important parts of a solve and be able to do those parts well. even with these advantages of taking a long break, your cubing skill will still decrease from not having cubed.

 

[Dene]

I think the most important part is to constructively approach the breaks you take. Give yourself time to refresh in the break. Then when you come back allow yourself to take a new approach to certain things in solves.

 

[ketchuphater999]

I took a 4 month break from cubing, pretty much not even touching a cube for the whole time. When I came back I got sub-20 within two months while before I was stuck at a 35s average for almost a year.

 

[josh42732]

I think the most important part is to constructively approach the breaks you take. Give yourself time to refresh in the break. Then when you come back allow yourself to take a new approach to certain things in solves.

Yea that's the goal. I am going to try to kill some bad habits by not even trying to go through with them.