Tunnel vision as a healer

[LitheSuxman]

Often I find myself staring at the party list for health drops and debuffs instead of looking of the "game" itself, especially during boss fights, almost never get a chance to enjoy the graphic and scenery.

Am I playing it wrong or is this the standard healer experience?
Because if it is I'm jumping ship back to dps and tanking.

[Xirean]

That's interesting. I usually have this problem with my hotbar on dps.

[DeaconMoore]

It can be, especially if you are newer to healing. Doesn't have to be that way though, you can setup health bars for the party members to be over their heads so you can keep track of their health on the field instead of the party window as that lets you see more of the game. Depends on what's going on a bit too.

[Axzeriuth]

If you dont know a fight and acting reactively (after being hit) then sure I understand tunnel vision on the party list so you know what your healing is doing. Once you're comfortable healing and know what attacks do what then you can act accordingly without staring at health bars. It does come with practice.
Another thing would be to have health bars above peoples heads when they get damaged so thats a way to know who needs healing without the party list.

[Yeol]

The default party list position is top left. Makes it harder for you to track people's HP as well as focus on the mechanics. Try moving the party list closer to the middle of the screen.

[Jeeqbit]

You don't need to stare at it, just glance at it with the corner of your eye every 2-3 seconds.

You can avoid looking at it until the boss casts something, because either your party will not take damage until the boss casts something, or what the party member stood in won't need healing until the boss is about the finish them off with a raid-wide aoe. If the party member died from standing in something it won't hurt them to remain dead for a few seconds more until you look at the party list.

You should be able to heal the person quickly with an off-global ability before the boss casts an aoe, except at low levels where you can only cast heals.

[Xasapis]

The default party list position is top left. Maks it harder for you to track people's HP as well as focus on the mechanics. Try moving the party list closer to the middle of the screen.

I basically did the same. I have a 27 inch monitor so leaving the group frames at the default position would leave me with a sore neck. I put the group frames almost left center position of the screen and this is the only frame I look at when I want to heal, including myself.

[Hysterior]

You need to see where your eyes naturally go and change your layout so the most important info are in one place + you'll tunnel vision less and less as you realize how little healing is actually needed

[Rein_eon_Osborne]

Is this is your first time healing? Are you still learning how to play healer roles? Are you using default HUD layout?

If the answer to any of these 3 questions are ‘yes’ then rest assured that you’re not alone nor an oddball. The first two cases will get better as you practice more. Reactively healing will do just that to you & that is fine because you need time to familiarize yourself. Once you’re comfortable, you will slowly learn that almost every incoming damage and debuff are very predictable; even the time when your party will mistake.

Meanwhile default HUD, while it works, it’s not optimal in my opinion. The information you need to see are all over the place: party list, enemy list (for their cast bar), your target, focus target, your own buff/debuff bar, class gauge, and even our own hotbar. The bright side with our hotbar is that we are consolidated to have 1 button spam dps option so you have more leeway to divide your attention elsewhere because all you have to do is just mindlessly tapping 1 button until some healing is needed.

I know not your preferences in HUD layout and I believe this is unique to each of us. You have to experiment yourselves and see which layout works the best for you. They are highly customizable, so that’s a plus point.

[Nethereal]

Often I find myself staring at the party list for health drops and debuffs instead of looking of the "game" itself, especially during boss fights, almost never get a chance to enjoy the graphic and scenery.

Am I playing it wrong or is this the standard healer experience?
Because if it is I'm jumping ship back to dps and tanking.

Put the party list in the middle of your screen to the left or right whichever you prefer. Eventually you'll be looking at the scenery while also looking at the party list. This will also help you with snap healing if you end up doing harder content.