Wordle and other brain-taxing puzzles are good for your health. Here’s why
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ll either already be playing
Wordle or wondering what all the fuss is about, especially with the extra attention since it was acquired by the
New York Times.
For the uninitiated,
Wordle is a game where you have to guess, or figure out, a five-letter word.
Every day starts with a new word, and you get six chances to guess what it is. Each letter you get right is awarded a yellow square. If it’s also in the correct place, you get a green square. All other letters get a grey square.
Sounds simple, but it’s actually harder than it first appears – particularly so since the
NYT got involved.
Read on to find out why
Wordle and other similar mind-stretching puzzles are good for your health and why you should make playing
Wordle a daily habit.
Puzzles increase focus, concentration, and short-term memory
Concentrating on solving a puzzle reinforces connections between brain cells, improves mental speed, and is an effective way to improve short-term memory.
To back this up, a study in 2019 found that adults over 50 who frequently engaged in word games, like crosswords, performed better at tasks that required the use of their memory, reasoning, and attention skills.
Solving logic problems helps keep you sharp
Puzzles like
Wordle are designed to exercise your brain. Crossword puzzles, riddles, word searches, Sudoku and similar logic problems can all activate different parts of your brain and help you hone your critical and analytical thinking skills.
Research has found that older adults who regularly play word and number puzzles have sharper mental capacity. The more often they played, the better their brain function.
Other studies have shown that doing crossword puzzles could reduce the onset of dementia by up to two and a half years.
While they may not have the power to prevent dementia entirely, playing mentally stimulating games or solving brain puzzles regularly together with healthy eating and sensible exercise may be good for your long-term brain health.
Success makes you feel good
When you succeed at completing a puzzle, or even sections of a puzzle, you increase the production of dopamine. This vital chemical regulates your mood, memory, and concentration. Every success (or green
Wordle square) means you’ll enjoy another hit of feel-good dopamine.
Focusing on something different helps you unwind after a busy day
Doing a daily puzzle helps you to relax and de-stress, providing you similar benefits as meditation. As you focus your attention on solving the puzzle in front of you, the stress of everyday life evaporates, replaced by a sense of calm that lowers your blood pressure and heart rate.
So, next time you’re fiddling with your phone and looking for entertainment, turn to
Wordle.
Your brain will be grateful for the stimulation and the diverting activity will help you be your mental best now and protect you against future cognitive decline.
Alternative ways to get the benefit without falling into the Wordle trap
If you don’t fancy jumping on the
Wordle bandwagon, taking up a new creative hobby can be just as good for your brain and overall health.
Painting, photography, creative writing, playing music, learning to play an instrument, or learning a new language can all be excellent ways to exercise different parts of your brain.
If you’re sold on the idea of improving your cognitive function, here are three more suggestions that could help.
- Get regular exercise – What’s good for your body is good for your brain. Regular exercise, even something as simple as a daily walk, can go a long way towards improving your memory and cognitive skills.
- Read every day – According to research published in the journal Neurology, regular reading and writing in late life reduced the rate of memory decline by 32%.
- Write frequently – Writing improves your working memory and communication abilities. It doesn’t matter what you write. The act of writing things down and expressing yourself will boost your brain activity.
- Stick to a healthy diet – Eat a diet with plenty of fresh vegetables and fruit. Nuts, fish, and red wine have all been linked to a healthy brain. Reducing the amount of sugar you consume can also help stimulate your mind.
