Article:
Food for Thought - A Look At A Common Gaming Ritual

There are a lot of rituals that some follow when it comes to gaming. Similar to athletes who stop shaving, fans who put paint on their faces, and referees who check the cleanliness of their uniforms – gamers tend to have habits they form before their big event. It might be as simple as grabbing their favorite set of dice, using the same pad of paper they’ve used at every other event, or packing their gear in the same bag because they feel it gives them an “edge” – despite the fact that it’s hanging by a single thread!

These rituals aren’t consciously meant to generate fortune, but rather, gamers perform them as they believe that they provide an immeasurable performance boost.

And when the event is big, even the smallest advantage adds up, since winning is one the major reasons we play.

Let’s take a look at one of the most basic and common rituals that many partake in, regardless of the game – the meal the day before. In the past, warriors would spend the night before feasting on meats and calorie rich drinks (such as booze). What exactly did this do? Was this just a useless ritual that wasted time? A means to use up resources in case you lost the war?

No! This was, and still is a ritual that actually works.

First, a big delicious meal serves to raise the human spirit. In a jovial atmosphere, it can strengthen the resolve to win; and create winning expectations. As we know, mental resolve is huge when faced with adversity, and this is one of the most important things to possess before a competition.

Second, the meal serves to raise energy levels – not only for the body, but also for the mind. Providing energy for the mind allows it to think faster, react quicker, perceive clearly, and be emotionally stable.

It is easy to see what happens when one is deprived of food. The first day of a fast may be difficult, but for the most part anyone can get through the day without too much trouble. Come the second day, though, and you’ll experience difficulty concentrating, feel tired between bouts of hunger, and generally find it hard to do much. And once the third day comes along, your resolve to stop eating will be dealt a severe blow; such that you might just find yourself in front of a fast food joint without even knowing how you got there.