Improving your tactical thinking requires more than just reading books on military history. At some point, you need to get out in the field and to test your skills. Below are four hobbies that will not only sharpen your reflexes, but they’ll also improve your tactical thinking.
War Games
War gaming is an interesting hobby. If you can get past painting the figures and the deep storylines, you’re really getting into games that are all about learning how to think tactically. Whether you’re managing a small squad or a large army, you are learning how to read situations on the fly and adapt to the moves of your opponents. While you may not ever deal with this kind of large-scale command in real life, the lessons you learn here will be valuable.
Basketball
While most people might not make an immediate connection between basketball and tactical thinking, it’s actually a great game for developing a tactical mindset. Unlike many other games, it’s one of constant motion and change—you have to be willing and able to adapt on the fly. Those who play basketball are good at thinking on their feet while also generally being fantastic at situational awareness. If you’re looking for a hobby that can really help with your reflexes, you’ll find that few are better than basketball.
Laser Tag
To some, tactical laser tag might seem like a silly diversion, but there are versions of the game that are great for really refining your tactical abilities. The tactical iteration of the game simulates real combat situations, requiring you to coordinate with a team and really master your surroundings in order to complete your objectives. This is a fantastic hobby to pick up if your goal is to continually test your real-world skills.
Chess
Chess has been the ultimate game of strategy for centuries, and for good reason. Not only does it require a significant amount of tactical thinking, but it’s the kind of game that allows you to build off of your own mistakes. If you’re looking for a way to start getting a better idea of how to think more than a move or two ahead in real life, you’re going to find no better hobby than a classic game of chess.
The hobbies above really can change the way you think. They’ll assist you in planning things more strategically while helping you learn to be adaptable. With the right hobbies, you can change the way you look at the world.