It happens to everyone, whether we are talking about an actual wrist pain during long gaming sessions or mental fatigue and inability to focus during games which cause you to play worse. I’ve been there and done that. That’s okay. I want to teach you how to avoid it and deal with it so you won’t have to suffer from negative consequences anymore.
First, we have to separate between mental and physical fatigue. Let’s start with mental fatigue as it is way more common.
Mental Fatigue
What Is Aim Fatigue?
Mental aim fatigue is a state of mental exhaustion. Or in other words, burnout. It is the inability to focus on the game which causes worse gameplay. It is usually the product of long gaming sessions or improper rest, which causes tiredness, lack of focus, and even sleepiness.
Do you know these times when you are really popping off, and suddenly after a match or two, you feel sluggish? You don’t hit your shots anymore. You are lazy. You slow down, etc. This is mental fatigue. It probably happens because you got tired and barely focused on the game. And we already know the importance of focus here (How To Improve Focus During Gaming). Basically, your performance peaks at the start of your gaming, and as the day progresses, you become worse and worse.
Before I go on, I want to add an important disclaimer. Aim fatigue is totally normal. It happens to everyone, and this is nothing serious. Mental aim fatigue is usually fixed after a small break. So there’s nothing to worry about. But, there are a couple of tips I can give you that can reduce the impact and the number of times it will happen to you.
How To Avoid Aim Fatigue?
Take Frequent Breaks
It is a no-brainer, but it is the best cure. Rest refreshes you and lets your recharge. You can’t be playing 24-7. You need rest. Go take a walk. Have a conversation with a friend. Eat something, drink some tea. Just take a break and do something refreshing. When you play a lot, you will naturally get tired and lazy. A break can solve that.
How long should the breaks be? Well, I would say about 5-10 minutes for every hour. It works for me and many gamers in the community but feel free to experiment, of course. Some need more. Some can have with less. So make sure to experiment and see what feels right for you.
Stay Healthy
How many times can I preach about staying healthy? Is this a gaming improvement site or what? Well, you are going to hear me say it once again. Stay healthy. Sleep well. Eat healthily. Hit the gym. Meditate. Drink a lot of water. Have good posture. Make sure you are well rested. Make sure your mind is in a good place. It will do wonders for you. Your ability to focus will improve, and the length of your ability to focus will improve as well. So many benefits, so little work. That and taking frequent breaks will uplift your gameplay to another level. Trust me.
Your Mood Matters
It was proven that gaming is a cognitive sport, and your mood matters (GAMING IS A COGNITIVE SPORT: YOUR MOOD MATTERS). Therefore, if you are in a bad mood, stressed about work or school, or sad about something, you will play poorly. I am not saying that you should eliminate your emotions, of course. I am just saying that you should be aware of your feelings so you can draw the correct conclusions when studying your gaming performance.
Physical Fatigue
What Is Physical Aim Fatigue?
Physical aim fatigue is a state of discomfort or soreness, usually within your arm or wrist. It is totally normal to experience some degree of soreness during long gaming sessions due to the nature of aiming in gaming. Moving and using your wrist and arm for a long period of time can cause some soreness.
This is a common phenomenon for low-sensitivity players because we use our arms and wrist more than high-sensitivity players, who barely need to move their wrists to play. (Wrist aiming vs Arm aiming). But, it can happen to high-sensitivity players, too, as they tend to grip their mouse too tightly to control micro-adjustments, which as a result, causes strain on their wrist.
How To Fix Physical Aim Fatigue?
Take Frequent Breaks
Again, this is a no-brainer. Breaks help. Aiming uses your muscles, so if you do it and do not take the proper breaks or rest between sessions you end up sore. I covered everything about rest and breaks in the mental aim fatigue, but I would say a 5-10 minutes break for every hour is good enough for most people.
Don't Grip Your Mouse Too Tightly
This is the main cause of fatigue. People are death gripping their mice when they play. You have to relax your muscles. Don’t cramp them. Your hand should be almost completely relaxed. Your mouse should be an extension of your hand. Treat it like one.
Your Mouse Is Too Heavy
You might be playing with a heavy mouse. After longer gaming sessions, you will be worn out faster, than playing with a lightweight one. (Lightweight one vs Heavy gaming mice). This is one of the main cons of heavy gaming mice.
Final Words
How To Fix Aim Fatigue
Aim fatigue is usually the product of long gaming sessions or improper rest. Taking 5-10 minute breaks for every hour of gameplay will do wonders for battling against fatigue. Another important factor is taking care of your mental state and body, as they both play a significant role in fatigue.
How To Fix Physical Aim Fatigue
Physical aim fatigue is usually the product of long gaming sessions and a poor mouse grip. Make sure to take 5-10 minute breaks for every hour of gameplay. Another factor to keep in mind is your grip. Loosen your hand and make sure your muscles and arm are relaxed. If the problem persists, buy a lighter mouse.
