diff --git a/src/components/effects/GradientBlinds.test.tsx b/src/components/effects/GradientBlinds.test.tsx
index 4a2789c..e29a176 100644
--- a/src/components/effects/GradientBlinds.test.tsx
+++ b/src/components/effects/GradientBlinds.test.tsx
@@ -66,8 +66,17 @@ describe('GradientBlinds', () => {
     vi.clearAllMocks();
   });
 
-  it('starts animation loop on mount', () => {
+  it('does not start animation loop on mount until visible', () => {
     const { unmount } = render(<GradientBlinds />);
+    expect(rafSpy).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+
+    // Simulate on-screen
+    act(() => {
+      if (ioCallback) {
+        ioCallback([{ isIntersecting: true } as IntersectionObserverEntry]);
+      }
+    });
+
     expect(rafSpy).toHaveBeenCalled();
     unmount();
     expect(cancelRafSpy).toHaveBeenCalled();
@@ -76,7 +85,15 @@ describe('GradientBlinds', () => {
   it('pauses animation loop when off-screen and resumes when on-screen', () => {
     const { unmount } = render(<GradientBlinds />);
 
-    // Initial start
+    // Should not start initially
+    expect(rafSpy).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+
+    // Simulate on-screen (start)
+    act(() => {
+      if (ioCallback) {
+        ioCallback([{ isIntersecting: true } as IntersectionObserverEntry]);
+      }
+    });
     expect(rafSpy).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
 
     // Reset spies to check for subsequent calls
diff --git a/src/components/effects/GradientBlinds.tsx b/src/components/effects/GradientBlinds.tsx
index 735c48e..7a1595e 100644
--- a/src/components/effects/GradientBlinds.tsx
+++ b/src/components/effects/GradientBlinds.tsx
@@ -349,8 +349,6 @@ void main() {
     });
     observer.observe(container);
 
-    rafRef.current = requestAnimationFrame(loop);
-
     return () => {
       if (rafRef.current) cancelAnimationFrame(rafRef.current);
       canvas.removeEventListener('pointermove', onPointerMove);
diff --git a/src/components/layout/FancyCursor.test.tsx b/src/components/layout/FancyCursor.test.tsx
index 6b433d6..da5d2d3 100644
--- a/src/components/layout/FancyCursor.test.tsx
+++ b/src/components/layout/FancyCursor.test.tsx
@@ -86,26 +86,22 @@ describe('FancyCursor', () => {
         document.body.removeChild(link);
     });
 
-    it('uses fallback elementFromPoint if hoveredElement is null', () => {
+    it('does not call elementFromPoint on mousemove', () => {
         // Reset elementFromPoint mock
         const mockElementFromPoint = vi.fn();
         // @ts-ignore
         document.elementFromPoint = mockElementFromPoint;
 
-        // We need to remount to reset internal state if any.
-        // However, 'hoveredElement' variable was defined INSIDE the component in my edit.
-        // Let's double check that.
-
         render(<FancyCursor />);
 
-        // Trigger mousemove WITHOUT prior mouseover.
-        // This should trigger the fallback.
+        // Trigger mousemove
         fireEvent.mouseMove(window, { clientX: 10, clientY: 10 });
 
         act(() => {
             vi.runAllTimers();
         });
 
-        expect(mockElementFromPoint).toHaveBeenCalledWith(10, 10);
+        // Should NOT be called in the optimized version
+        expect(mockElementFromPoint).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
     });
 });
diff --git a/src/components/layout/FancyCursor.tsx b/src/components/layout/FancyCursor.tsx
index 27d6c5c..501d293 100644
--- a/src/components/layout/FancyCursor.tsx
+++ b/src/components/layout/FancyCursor.tsx
@@ -19,10 +19,24 @@ export const FancyCursor = memo(() => {
         if (!cursor) return;
 
         let animationFrameId: number;
-        let hoveredElement: Element | null = null;
+
+        const updateCursorState = (el: Element | null) => {
+            const classList = cursor.classList;
+
+            // Coercing to boolean with `!!` is a micro-optimization.
+            const isResize = !!el?.closest('#custom-resize-handle');
+            const isText = !!el?.closest('input[type="text"], input[type="email"], textarea, [contenteditable="true"]');
+            const isLink = !!el?.closest('a, button, [role="button"], input[type="submit"], input[type="button"]');
+
+            // These classes are toggled based on the hovered element.
+            // The actual visual styles are defined in your CSS files.
+            classList.toggle('resize-hover', isResize);
+            classList.toggle('text-hover', isText && !isResize);
+            classList.toggle('link-hover', isLink && !isText && !isResize);
+        };
 
         const handleMouseOver = (e: MouseEvent) => {
-            hoveredElement = e.target as Element;
+            updateCursorState(e.target as Element);
         };
 
         // The mouse move handler is throttled with requestAnimationFrame to ensure
@@ -35,25 +49,6 @@ export const FancyCursor = memo(() => {
                 // This shifts the cursor element by half its own width and height,
                 // which effectively centers it on the pointer without affecting the visuals.
                 cursor.style.transform = `translate3d(${e.clientX}px, ${e.clientY}px, 0) translate(-50%, -50%)`;
-
-                // Use the cached hovered element if available, otherwise fallback to elementFromPoint
-                // This fallback is mostly for the initial state before any mouseover events
-                if (!hoveredElement) {
-                    hoveredElement = document.elementFromPoint(e.clientX, e.clientY);
-                }
-                const el = hoveredElement;
-                const classList = cursor.classList;
-                
-                // Coercing to boolean with `!!` is a micro-optimization.
-                const isResize = !!el?.closest('#custom-resize-handle');
-                const isText = !!el?.closest('input[type="text"], input[type="email"], textarea, [contenteditable="true"]');
-                const isLink = !!el?.closest('a, button, [role="button"], input[type="submit"], input[type="button"]');
-
-                // These classes are toggled based on the hovered element.
-                // The actual visual styles are defined in your CSS files.
-                classList.toggle('resize-hover', isResize);
-                classList.toggle('text-hover', isText && !isResize);
-                classList.toggle('link-hover', isLink && !isText && !isResize);
             });
         };
 
diff --git a/src/hooks/useTypingEffect.ts b/src/hooks/useTypingEffect.ts
index 2866685..4f1878f 100644
--- a/src/hooks/useTypingEffect.ts
+++ b/src/hooks/useTypingEffect.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import { useState, useEffect, useMemo } from 'react';
+import { useState, useEffect, useMemo, useRef } from 'react';
 
 interface UseTypingEffectOptions {
   words: string[];
@@ -23,44 +23,60 @@ export function useTypingEffect({
   // eslint-disable-next-line react-hooks/exhaustive-deps
   const stableWords = useMemo(() => words, [JSON.stringify(words)]);
 
+  // Ref to hold the latest state for the timer loop
+  const stateRef = useRef({ currentText, isDeleting, isPaused });
+  useEffect(() => {
+    stateRef.current = { currentText, isDeleting, isPaused };
+  });
+
+  // Effect 1: Handle word switching when deleted
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (isDeleting && currentText === '' && !isPaused) {
+      setIsDeleting(false);
+      setCurrentWordIndex((prev) => (prev + 1) % stableWords.length);
+    }
+  }, [currentText, isDeleting, isPaused, stableWords]);
+
+  // Effect 2: Timer Loop
   useEffect(() => {
     let timer: ReturnType<typeof setTimeout>;
 
     const currentWord = stableWords[currentWordIndex];
-    const isWordDeleted = isDeleting && currentText === '';
 
-    // If word is fully deleted, move to next word immediately (no timer)
-    if (!isPaused && isWordDeleted) {
-      setIsDeleting(false);
-      setCurrentWordIndex((prev) => (prev + 1) % stableWords.length);
-      return;
-    }
+    const tick = () => {
+      const { currentText, isDeleting, isPaused } = stateRef.current;
 
-    // Determine speed based on state
-    const speed = isPaused ? pauseDuration : (isDeleting ? deletingSpeed : typingSpeed);
-
-    timer = setTimeout(() => {
       if (isPaused) {
         setIsPaused(false);
         setIsDeleting(true);
-      } else {
-        // Typing logic
-        if (isDeleting) {
-          setCurrentText((prev) => prev.substring(0, prev.length - 1));
-        } else {
-          const nextText = currentWord.substring(0, currentText.length + 1);
-          setCurrentText(nextText);
+        return;
+      }
 
-          if (nextText === currentWord) {
-            setIsPaused(true);
-          }
+      if (isDeleting) {
+        if (currentText === '') {
+          // Handled by the other effect
+          return;
+        }
+        setCurrentText((prev) => prev.substring(0, prev.length - 1));
+        timer = setTimeout(tick, deletingSpeed);
+      } else {
+        const nextText = currentWord.substring(0, currentText.length + 1);
+        setCurrentText(nextText);
+
+        if (nextText === currentWord) {
+          setIsPaused(true);
+        } else {
+          timer = setTimeout(tick, typingSpeed);
         }
       }
-    }, speed);
+    };
+
+    // Determine initial speed
+    const speed = isPaused ? pauseDuration : (isDeleting ? deletingSpeed : typingSpeed);
+    timer = setTimeout(tick, speed);
 
     return () => clearTimeout(timer);
   }, [
-    currentText,
     isDeleting,
     isPaused,
     currentWordIndex,