Anxiety sucks. The constant worrying and tension can quickly burn you out and lead to depression. I’ve found many activities to help relieve my anxiety such as exercising, going for long bike rides and playing video games. Now there is research that supports the notion that video games can help with anxiety. Well at least one of them has been proven to help…..Tetris. I can personally vouch for this as I have found it nearly impossible to stay stressed while playing a good old fashioned game of Tetris.
Researchers from the University of California (UC) Riverside have determined that playing Tetris increases “flow” which disrupts the patterns of worry. Essentially playing Tetris can soothe the mind. One of my favorite things to do on a Sunday evening is sit in a comfortable chair, put on one of my favorite podcasts and play a game of Tetris or Tetris Attacks on my SNES Classic or NES Classic.
There is something about the bright colors, relaxing music (especially Tetris Attack) that really calm my mind and centers my soul. The waves of nostalgia are also really strong when I play these games as they were mainstays of my youth.
So go ahead and get your game on!
