Reply To: Where to look vs. keeping eyes closed

[Noa Kageyama]

Hi Victoria,

Interesting question. I don’t think there’s anything definitive one way or the other, and you might enjoy reading this: https://bulletproofmusician.com/do-musicians-perform-better-with-eyes-open-or-ckosed/

I think either eyes closed, or looking off in the distance can both work – and I wonder if perhaps the anxiety about trying to have the “right” visual focus is more detrimental than where your eyes are actually looking? I think your list of what doesn’t work is spot-on and similar to what most others describe, so that’s a good start. And it does seem to be pretty situational (sometimes looking at contact point helps, but maybe just for a moment, before switching to something else, etc.), and varies from person to person.

I wonder if rather than trying to identify the most optimal location for visual focus, what might happen if you put more energy into trying to identify the most optimal target for your mental focus? And perhaps videotape yourself as you do this? I wonder if when you’re really locked in mentally, your eyes will naturally close or go to certain places on their own in a more organic way, rather than trying to choreograph your eye movements, which may or may not lead to better mental focus? Does that make sense?

Noa