Tap. Click. Stare. The reaction time test doesn’t care about excuses. It’s that split-second challenge, with numbers flashing or objects bouncing on your screen, daring your brain to catch up. A lot of people assume it’s only for gamers or young athletes, but don’t you think everyone is a little intrigued about how fast they are sometimes? Whether you’re attempting to avoid a renegade squirrel while jogging in the morning or not spilling coffee on your keyboard during a video conversation, life is all about those quick decisions.

Have you ever jumped at the sound of a book falling? That’s your reaction time creeping up on you. The test itself frequently seems easy. Touch this, click that—how quickly did you respond? These small numbers have a lot of weight, even though they are only a few milliseconds long. They tell stories about your nervous system and how quickly those signals go.

Adults might be startled by how slow their fingers are when they play “slap the table” games with kids. Aging, caffeine, and lack of sleep are just a few of the things that might make your reflexes slower or faster. One Monday morning, when I was still sleepy, I saw a big red button that seemed to be daring me to press it. It turns out that four cups of coffee and a donut don’t make up for real sleep. 582 milliseconds for the reaction time test. Oh no.

Some people say that sugar helps you do better now. Some people swear by cold showers. Real research suggests that there are certain tricks: practice a lot, get enough sleep, and drink water (not coffee)! The more you put your senses to the test, the better your brain grows at picking up on things and sending commands to your fingers or toes.

Do you think it’s all about the fingers? Change your mind. Sprinters practice getting off the blocks quickly. Drivers need quick responses to stay safe. Typists try to beat their last words-per-minute scores by racing. Even musicians fight for accuracy when they hit the right note. It’s crazy how many areas need a quick answer.

Try it out online, using applications, or by getting a friend to play a slap game with you. Just a heads up. Competition becomes hot faster than a pavement in the summer. At family dinner, “just a test” suddenly becomes bragging rights. Aunt Mary still tells about how she set a record of 350 milliseconds on Thanksgiving years ago.

Errors? People do these all the time. Double taps, incorrect starts, and gaze drifting to a puppy that was passing by. Go with the flow. Don’t worry about one bad grade. Patterns are more important. You’ll see actual progress if you keep becoming better. It’s not about being perfect; it’s about sticking with it. If you don’t keep things fun, your brain will stop paying attention.

Why bother? Sure, reaction time tests are fun, but they also tell you a little bit about your health. Results that take a long time to come in after weeks of no sleep? You might want to take a break. A sudden change for the better? Your brain is undoubtedly happy that you worked out.

So the next time you want to avoid the response time test, try it out. You could surprise yourself if your fingers can keep up.