How to Win a Staring Contest and Not Blink

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Keep your eyes open with these techniques and beat your competition
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If you want to have a simple competition with a friend, a staring contest is the perfect choice. All you have to do is keep your eyes open for longer than your opponent, and there are a lot of tricks that will stop you from blinking and help you beat the other person. Keep reading, and we’ll answer your questions on how to keep your eyes open for longer and how to make your opponent blink first.

Best Ways to Win a Staring Contest

  • Keep your eyes closed or do long blinks before the contest so your eyes stay moist.
  • Squint during the contest when your eyes start feeling dry.
  • Let your thoughts wander so you can deeply focus.
  • Do something funny to make your opponent laugh and blink first.
  • Try to distract your opponent with hand motions or clapping.
Section 1 of 3:

How to Not Blink during a Staring Contest

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  1. You won’t be able to blink for a long time, so try to keep your eyes closed right until you begin the contest. That way, your eyes stay moist and you have a good starting position. [1]
    • Most people will not allow eye drops during a staring contest, but you can use them before the contest starts to add extra moisture to your eyes.
  2. Your opponent will probably try to distract you so you blink first, so keep your focus on making eye contact. Avoid looking at their mouth or hands, and stare directly into their pupils instead.
    • If the person does something funny, avoid having a strong reaction but acknowledge them. Either nod your head or quietly say “Okay” so you don’t break focus.
    • If your opponent tries to make you laugh, think of something that makes you sad or upset.
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  3. If you feel like you need to blink, slightly squint to help remoisten them. Make sure you don’t close your eyes all the way or squint too much, because it might be confused as a blink. When you feel tears starting to form, open your eyes again.
  4. Rather than thinking about keeping your eyes open, think of a topic you find deeply interesting. This can help you stare for longer while you’re deep in thought, and it makes you less likely to get distracted. Just make sure that you don’t let your mind wander too much, or you might accidentally blink without realizing it. [2]
  5. You’re more likely to blink if you’re feeling anxious or uncomfortable. Make sure you’re sitting or standing in a comfortable position, and keep your body relaxed.
    • Try to keep your eyes relaxed instead of forcing them wide open. Otherwise, your eyes may dry out quicker and force you to blink sooner.
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Section 2 of 3:

How to Make Your Opponent Blink First in a Staring Contest

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  1. Without breaking eye contact with the other person, try making funny noises or talk in a silly voice to get your opponent to laugh. Crack your favorite joke or make a funny face so your opponent blinks before you do.
    • Try to learn your opponent’s sense of humor before you have a staring contest so you know what will make them laugh.
    • Be careful not to do something so funny that you make yourself laugh.
    • Try to catch your opponent off guard by whispering a silly word, like “pickle” or “banana.”
  2. Fake a yawn, but make sure to keep your eyes open during it. Yawns tend to be “contagious” so your opponent may need to yawn right after you and it could cause them to blink if they aren’t prepared. [3]
    • Yawning can help bring tears to your eyes and keep them moist so you can stare for longer.
  3. While you’re having your staring contest, try to get them to break eye contact or blink by moving your hands. Wave your hands at your sides, snap your fingers, or clap loudly to startle your opponent.
    • Creating a distraction may be considered unfair, so always check the rules with your opponent before starting.
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Section 3 of 3:

FAQ

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  1. Whoever can keep their eyes open the longest without blinking wins the staring contest. Some people don’t allow breaking eye contact, squinting, or trying to distract the other person, so settle on all the rules with your opponent before starting your staring contest.
  2. Practice in the mirror. Stare at your reflection and try to keep your eyes open for as long as you can. Keep time of how long you can go without blinking, and attempt to keep your eyes open for longer each time you practice.
  3. No, purposefully blowing air into someone’s eyes during a staring contest is considered cheating and poor sportsmanship. Practice keeping your eyes open for longer so you can win fair and square.
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Community Q&A

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  • Question
    If something gets in my eye and causes me to blink, do I still lose?
    Community Answer
    It depends on the rules you've decided to play by. Personally, I would restart the round if my opponent blinked because they got something in their eye, but in other cases, you might just be declared the loser.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
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  • Question
    Can this harm your eyes?
    Community Answer
    Not in the long term, but you can definitely get sore eyes from doing this.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
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  • Question
    Do glasses help you not blink?
    Community Answer
    No, glasses don't really make a difference in a staring contest.
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    Thank you for your feedback.
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      Tips

      • If you wear contact lenses, they can help keep your eyes moist and reduce your need to blink.
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      • When you read, you don't blink as often. So try reading more; it will increase your chance of winning and keep you entertained at the same time!
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      Warnings

      • Not blinking for long periods of time can cause eye pain or blurry vision, so only hold a staring contest for as long as you’re comfortable. [4]
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      References

      1. ↑ https://youtu.be/qP9Xzo0IDbk?t=42
      2. ↑ https://youtu.be/qP9Xzo0IDbk?t=108
      3. ↑ https://health.clevelandclinic.org/why-do-you-yawn-and-is-it-contagious
      4. ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21059-eye-strain

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      If you want to win a staring contest, keep your eyes moist so you don't feel the need to blink. Before you start, blink a few times, yawn to make some tears, or close your eyes tightly for a minute. When the contest starts, stay relaxed and avoid focusing too hard on your opponent so your eyes don’t widen and dry out quickly. When your eyes start to feel dry, squint a little to bring some moisture back to them. Another way to win is to distract your opponent by making small, strange sounds or faces that might make them laugh or forget about not blinking. You can also try snapping or dropping something to get them to look away. To learn how to stay focused during a staring contest, keep reading!

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