Are You as Quick as You Feel? Reaction Time Exercises Anyone Can Try

Just before they fell down the counter, ever rushed for your keys? Your reaction time test drives that quick grab—whether heroic or humorous. Whether you find yourself in a waiting room or a home area, measuring this might become a fun endeavor.

Allow me to discuss the always popular ruler drop test. One person has a ruler, lets it drop without notice, and you grab it quickly. Where you find it defines your performance. Simple yet oddly addictive. Like in the Olympics, I have witnessed cousins fight about “house records.” Not batteries or sophisticated technology; simply nerves and swift hands.

Fast forward to now and you will find hundreds of colorful applications and online games testing you with lights, shapes, and random noises. You might be a ninja one minute; then your cat walks across the keyboard and destroys everything. Professional sportsmen, drivers, and gamers all take these examinations very seriously. Some people take great satisfaction in their fast reflexes (and occasionally, paychecks).

Think only athletes have quick reactions by birth? Try not to gamble on it. Your results can be changed by stress, sleep, eating, even mood. One acquaintance of mine claims he answered three times faster once his favorite music started on the radio. If he missed breakfast, another finds his mouse hardly moving straight. Try responding after an all-night; on a stormy day, you will most likely be slower than with Wi-Fi.

Developing your quickness can be more fun than you might imagine. Each game gently sharpens your reaction; bounce a ball off the wall, clap along to erratic songs, toss coins in the air and catch them. Families can get competitive; nothing livenes a boring afternoon like a reaction showdown. Sometimes you simply want to beat your own best time—perfectly valid motivation!

Nobody has promised you superpowers here. Most of us will not be eSports champions or Olympic sprinters. Being a little faster, however, could help you grab the last donut at work, prevent a drink from spilling, or just chuckle a little louder with pals. That merits a test or two, really.