In 1989, Tetris was the first game most users experimented with when Nintendo released their Game Boy system in the United States and Japan. The game, which prompts users to line up a descending array of tiles to create horizontal lines, became an addictive past time for close to 35 million portable players; by 2010 it had sold 100 million smartphone downloads.
Recent evidence suggests playing Tetris may be the solution to anxiety.
According to a paper published in the journal Emotion, Tetris has the capability to relieve stress and disturbing thoughts by providing a form of distraction.
Researchers at the University of California, Riverside conducted an experiment in which 309 students were told they would be assessed based on their physical attractiveness. As they waited for their results, one group played beginner's level Tetris, another group played a higher-speed version and a third group played a version that adjusted the speed of the game based on the player's abilities.
Tetris games that were too slow bored players; games that were too fast, frustrated them. Games that provided a moderate challenge helped reduce how the subjects' stress levels were perceived. Subjects playing at the moderate challenge level were still concerned about the outcome of the evaluation, however, they had less negative feelings about it.
The reason behind this is called "flow," a state of being in which one is completely absorbed, engaged or engrossed in an activity that they are no longer self-conscious.
Time flies by and whatever seemingly urgent issue preoccupying that time prior to playing the game is no longer a time-sucking, mind-numbing priority.
Let's say you are waiting on something important-a date calling you back, results from a medical exam or admission test scores-it's tempting to obsess about the possible outcomes. It may be helpful to turn off any alerts and attempt to distract yourself with an all-consuming brain game, like Tetris.
The results of the study prove that regular doses of "flow" can boost moods and help manage stress. While Tetris has proven reliable to achieve flow, any engrossing video game can work.
Flow is not limited to video games. Any activity that consumes your attention, playing music, or cards, drawing, writing, cooking or participating in any activity that distracts you from immediately pressing issues or concerns is likely to have the same effect. Research suggests that in tough moments, it is important to challenge ourselves to do something all-consuming to take us away from our present troubles.
During this time of social distancing, waiting, boredom and increased anxiety are the new normal. What's worse is you may be stuck in close quarters with someone(s) you practiced socially distancing from way before it became law. Now might be a good idea to download Tetris (for free) from either Android or iOS, which might actually make quarantine worthwhile.