After a long day of work, you finally settle down in your favorite chair. You pick up your phone and click on some social media application, and before you know it half an hour has vanished, only for you to feel quite underwhelmed. But what if, rather than mindlessly scrolling through pictures or posts, you engaged in a word game instead? Chances are, you would end up feeling more accomplished, sharper and maybe even a little happier. Why’s that?
As a puzzle constructor, I have spent years looking into why solving problems and making associations is so appealing. And believe it or not, there’s real science that emphasizes why word games can not only be more gratifying than social media but better for your brain as well.
Now let’s delve into the mental aspects of why your brain desires word games more than futile scrolling while explaining why opting for something like Puzzle Jam might just be the best choice you make today.
The Instant Gratification Trap of Social Media
The function of social media is to keep your attention. Sparing each of your neurons with dopamine, “a feel good chemical”, with every single like, comment, and share. But, there is always a but, that reward, that rush of dopamine, always comes to an end. This is similar to eating a candy bar when starving. The taste is sweet, and will always be sweet for only a short while, while the sweet taste makes sure to get you geared up for more.
Without a doubt, social media does and will always guarantee dopamine, however a word game is something that will guarantee long lasting satisfaction. While working on a complex puzzle, alongside dopamine, a feeling of control is granted. While social media does keep you feeling good, gives mental treats while social media is all about the quick hits.
Why Your Brain Loves a Good Challenge
Your brain is good at solving problems. It loves challenges that require connecting dots, pattern recognition, and logical reasoning. Word games are a great means for exercising such mental fitness. They tax your brain, and in return, your brain gets bigger and stronger.
- Playing games like Puzzle Jam actively works your brain on all levels:
- Pattern Recognition: Finding possible synergies between words or determining which letters should go in which spaces.
- Strategic Thinking: Making decisions that would yield the highest score and completing a challenge.
- Memory Recall: Employing vocabulary and language skills to access language relevant to the provided context.
Unlike word games, social media does not exercise any part of your brain. While scrolling a feed, brain activity is at its lowest. You enjoy passive consumption rather than creation. The lack of engagement leads to a less stimulating mind.
The Emotional Benefits of Word Games
Hasn’t solving a word puzzle never fails to lift your mood? That’s because all word games appeal to our intrinsic motivation towards achievement. Finding a tough word and completing a task gives a confidence boost which in return, greatly improves your state of mind, especially when faced with stress.
Studies have shown that engaging in challenging mental activities, like word puzzles can:
- Reduce Anxiety: Completing a puzzle can be meditative as it can draw your mind away from any ongoing stress.
- Enhance Focus: Playing word games can profoundly improve concentration which can positively impact other aspects of life beyond mental exercises.
- Boost Self-esteem: Solving an obscure crossword puzzle or achieving a new high score on word games gives an irreplaceable feeling of accomplishment, boosting self-esteem.
Unlike word puzzles, social media entertainment takes a more damaging route. Constant scrolling leads to anxiety, depression, and a constant feeling of inadequacy. Comparing your life to a highlight reel only brings in a plethora of steaming issues to one’s mental health.
The Cognitive Edge of Word Games
Think of word games as a mental workout. Just like completing physical exercise improves your fitness, solving mental word puzzles keeps your brain sharp. Participating in word games consistently can show improvement in the following skills:
- Learning New Words: By participating in word games consistently, an individual is likely to learn new words and increase their recall skills.
- Improving Cognitive Skills: Encountering complex word puzzles enhances problem-solving capabilities. Working on tricky puzzles develops critical and creative thinking skills.
- Improving Recall: Solving word games requires a considerable amount of recall processes to be undertaken improving short and long-term recall capabilities.
Alternatively, social media has an adverse impact. Research has shown that excessive screen time negatively affects recall and attention abilities by reducing the ability of the brain to focus on and store information.
Word Games as Social Connectors
The fact that we can make more connections using social networking media is one appealing aspect of it. However, do you feel truly connected after going through a social media session? Surprisingly, word games can make you feel more social.
With games like Puzzle Jam, you can enjoy multiplayer modes, challenges, and also check your rank on the leaderboard which allows interaction with your friends, family, or even total strangers. Unlike mindlessly liking another person’s impression on social media, people nowadays have the opportunity to interact through working on shared experiences, competing, and collaborating.
The Long-Term Benefits of Choosing Word Games
While scrolling in social media apps gets easier by the second, picking up strategy puzzles requires a lot of commitment and efforts dedicated to improving one’s approach. The later one is every person’s investment if they hope to see healthy returns on their mental faculties in the future. Engaging in activities such as puzzles offers great benefits. Some are offered below for your viewing pleasure.
- Improved and Enhanced Productivity: Although word puzzles require a brain cell activated during the game, they activate a plethora of neurons that allow for different types of focus. Thus, word puzzles have a remarkable ability to boost productivity when played in intervals.
- Cognition Not Being In Decline: Dealing with dementia and staying sharp for as long as possible through the progressive stages of life gets easier with age. In tandem with maintaining good health they allow avid puzzle solvers to stay mentally agile.
- Unending Lessons: Regardless of what type of game you are playing, everyone walks away picking up something new, whether it’s a novel term, new strategy, or a refreshing approach to tackle problems that truly broadens one’s perspective.
Why Puzzle Jam is the Perfect Choice
For those wanting to switch from random scrolling to purposeful mental stimulation, Puzzle Jam is there to assist. It is more than just a game, it is a brain-enhancement activity tailored for fun and mental perks..
Here’s what makes Puzzle Jam different:
- Different kinds of puzzles and challenges: From traditional word searches to newer and more exciting word formation games, there is something for every skill and interest level.
- Community aspects: Compete with your friends, join tournaments, or solve puzzles together to promote the social aspect.
- Available Everywhere: Whether you are using your phone, tablet, or computer, Puzzle Jam allows you to play whenever and wherever you are.
- Daily login bonuses: New challenges and bonuses encourage you to keep coming back for more.
The Final Word
Before you pick up the phone on your next reach, take a breath. Why don’t you try a word game instead of mindlessly scrolling through your favorite social media app? Your mood and mental fitness will certainly appreciate it.
If you are ready to feel the joy that comes with solving complex puzzles, download Puzzle Jam today. I bet you won’t regret it; it’s the ultimate power puzzle game. Let’s refine how you spend your time on the screen, one word at a time.
