A staring contest is a contest in which two people stare into each other's eyes until one of them blinks, smiles, or looks away. The first person to do this loses the match. There are a number of ways to increase your chances of winning, such as developing techniques to keep your eyes moist, or to distract your opponent. This article will teach you how to win a staring contest using these techniques.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Avoid blinking or being distracted
Step 1. Set the rules
It is important to establish criteria for winning and losing the game before you start so that you are not distracted during the game.
- Decide with your opponent exactly what the rules are before you start to avoid conflict later.
- Some rules say the game is over as soon as someone blinks, looks away, or smiles.
- Other competitions dictate that you don't make funny faces or wave your hands in front of your opponent.
Step 2. Before you start, moisten your eyes
You won't be able to blink for a long time, so it's best to get your eyes as moist as you can before you start.
- Close your eyes long and hard just before the match starts.
- Yawn if you can to produce some tears.
- Avoid eye drops and face creams. It is better to avoid things that can make your eyes itchy or irritated, because these things can make you blink.
- All these things will help your eyes not to feel dry and itchy during the match.
Step 3. Try to relax and stay calm
If you become uncomfortable or anxious there is a higher chance that you will be distracted or blink.
- Sit or stand in a comfortable position if you can.
- Don't strain your eyes.
- Don't focus too hard on the person in front of you.
Step 4. Let your thoughts drift away
If you focus too intensely on your opponent or on winning, you could make a mistake.
- Most people stare straight ahead without blinking when deep in thought.
- Think about a topic that you find very interesting, and focus all your mental energy on it.
- Don't let your mind wander too much though, or you might look away!
Step 5. Squeeze your eyes slightly every now and then
This can help when your eyes start to feel dry.
- When you feel like you can't handle the dryness anymore and think you need to blink, squeeze your eyes slightly shut.
- This will help bring some moisture back into your eyes.
- Try to make this subtle. Squinting too much can make it look like you blinked.
Step 6. Practice in front of the mirror
This can help you build up your time without blinking and practice avoiding distractions.
- If you keep losing staring matches, practice with it.
- Stare into your bathroom mirror, and use a timer to measure how long you can go without blinking.
- Try to go for a longer time each time you practice.
Method 2 of 2: Breaking your opponent
Step 1. Know your opponent
You can win faster when you know the weaknesses of your opponent(s).
- If your opponent is easily distracted, that can help you.
- Know how long your opponent can go without blinking, and aim to keep your eyes open for at least that long.
- Find out what makes your opponent laugh.
Step 2. Make your opponent laugh
- Make strange faces or make strange noises.
- Open your eyes wide or squeeze them closely.
- Tell jokes to make your opponent laugh.
- Be careful not to make yourself laugh while doing this or you will lose!
Step 3. Try to distract your opponent
Try to make him or her look away or blink.
- Swing your hands to the sides to create a distracting motion.
- Snap your fingers on the side to distract your opponent with sound.
- Try dropping something to make your opponent look away.
Step 4. Stay focused
Your opponent will probably try to distract you in similar ways.
- Think about something that makes you angry or sad. This will help you not to laugh.
- Acknowledge when your opponent does something funny, but don't let yourself react.
- Avoid listening to sounds or other distractions.
- Stare directly into your opponent's pupils to avoid looking at other parts of his or her face.
Tips
- Practice against a baby. They usually only blink once every few minutes.
- Try not to start squinting too early; this can cause you to blink and lose the game.
- When you are reading, you blink less often. So try to read more often; this will help your brain and improve your chances of winning, and it's fun too!
- If you wear contact lenses, they also help a lot. Lenses keep your eyes moist, so you don't have to blink as often.
- The more you think about not blinking, the more likely you are to do it.
- Practice with your mother, father, brother, sister or friend!