Exercising during breaks in God of War Ragnarok will improve focus

We’ve all been there.

In a game such as, for example, God of War Ragnarök, and steel ourselves for the unknown — or at least for the saltwater education we’re about to get. Surging with giddiness and fear, we might even utter some verbal self-encouragement as we mentally prepare for what’s ahead.

Take your time and take a deep breath before we enter.

At first, we start from a distance. We feel the differences and then trade shots. Finally, we move closer to examine what happens. Then we try out our favourite moves and see how they perform. We then modify them.

It starts then.

Did you ever think to yourself that I would like to be better at video games but it wouldn’t ruin my entire life? This week is dedicated to health and video games.

We are being killed by the big man. The fighting has become a series of poorly-placed shots, late defenses and unresolved gameplay.

We’re in trouble.

At this moment, we drop out of the “fight” zone and enter the “flight” zone — but death is often the only way out of a boss battle. The boss is always in the win, so we continue to struggle for momentum.

It doesn’t have to be this way.

I’m an occupational therapist with over three decades of experience in rehabilitation, and I’ve been hard-focused on improving human function since the very beginning. I have a hunch: I think there’s something we can implement that can give us an edge over bosses, and increase game performance in general.

They are my friends. boss-killer exercises.

Here’s how it works: When the cutscene hits, we jump into a little “Cutscene Carnage.” These are short, fast exercises that get the juices flowing, sharpen our attention, and let us go into battle prepared for what lies ahead. We don’t need to worry about how we are rocking on our chairs when we could be getting ready for battle.

Keep in mind that we’re not looking at traditional exercises aimed at better health. What we are looking for is boss-beating goodness. Don’t worry — you’ll still be able to watch the cutscene, and I’ll offer exercise modifications to account for different performance potentials.

Let’s get started.

Exercise 1: Chair sit-ups

Begin by stretching your back out towards the chair’s edge. You will then be kind of pushed out by your higher body as you lean back in the chair. You can now sit so that your shoulders cross your knees. Do this 30 times. These might seem difficult at first depending on your level of fitness.

You can modify by holding on to your armrests. Then, use your upper body and pull upwards. Don’t do it too often; you need enough support to stand up.

Exercise 2: Chair dips

Quickly, scoot towards the edge of your chair. While putting your feet out in front of you, place your hands on the chair’s bottom. Your backside should be lifted off of the chair. Next, lower it towards the floor using your arms. Push back with your arms when you have reached the floor. For at least twenty repetitions, you should be able to keep your arms straight and move one-second in every direction. The exercise will hammer the shoulders, chest and upper back.

Adjust the difficulty of the slopes by moving your foot closer to the ground or further away. You might find it difficult to descend all the way depending on how your body works. That is okay. Do what you can.

Exercise 3: Sit-stands

If the cutscene starts, you should get up from your seat. That’s right — just stand up! Now, stand straight up with your legs bent and your shoulders back.

It sounds easy, right? It’s not.

These are the exercises I would like you to try. You should stand straight up and then sit down for one second. Focus on your smooth movements and keep your eyes open. Now, you may not be able to do 30 in a row at first, and that’s no problem. Try your best. The exercise can really boost your metabolism and optimize your focus by the end.

Modifications are possible:

• Slower motion: Lower your speed while halving the repetitions.
• Keep your knees bent and straighten. Stabilize. Stand straight while you continue to stabilize. After that, slowly lower your knees until you are able to return to normal standing.
• You can run in place. Keep your knees high.

Exercise 4: Touch the ground, touch the sky

It is the most difficult exercise but it is essential for our goal.

First, come into standing. From there, bend your knees, squat down, and touch your controller to the floor (if it’s corded and not wireless, you can briefly put it down). You will immediately rise to standing, while simultaneously reaching above your head with one fluid motion. The controller or hands should be held as high as you can. You should aim for 20 repetitions. However, you may be able to get as many as possible the first time.

This exercise may look a little funny, but it’s a high-intensity closed kinetic chain movement that will put your body on notice. You’ll roll out of the cutscene sharp and ready to rumble.

Modifying can be as simple as limiting your descent. Progressive movements allow you to go deeper with each repetition.

Six tips to help you get started

A short word before you get going:

1. These exercises can be practiced in advance. Once you’ve refined your Cutscene Carnage routine, you can bring it into high-stakes gameplay.
2. Practice makes perfect. The more exercises you do, the more your body will adapt, and the better you’ll get. You’ll begin understanding your body better.
3. Each person is unique. You might find some of the exercises not to be helpful. You might find others that are more to your liking. Keep it simple and stick with what feels natural.
4. You can adapt as you need. If you can’t do some of these exercises, try the modified forms. You’ll find something that works for you given a little exploration.
5. You’ll be surprised. It’s possible to trigger similar body chemical and physical responses with short bursts, high intensity activity (in a good manner).
6. You can make it yours. While I’m providing some options here, feel free to use whatever exercises you want.

These exercises should be of value to you. These exercises can change how you approach gameplay if done correctly. It doesn’t matter how big the boss is (or how scary his weapon may be), because now you’re juiced. You’re ready. You’re taking him out, and taking it home.

Boss killer, trust me.