(NEXSTAR) – Every day, millions of people log onto their computers or smartphones and play the daily puzzle game, Wordle. But while it may seem like just a fun game added to a daily routine, it could affect workplace productivity.
“I think it depends greatly on the type of job that you have whether it’s helpful,” Dr. Doug Scharre, director of the Division of Cognitive Neurology at Ohio State University said. “But clearly, we do have lots of data to suggest that brain stimulation, in general, is useful for brain health.”
While not actually a muscle, the brain can be trained as one and can react similarly when challenged. According to Dr. Scharre, certain kinds of brain games can help improve brain health and, in turn, productivity by “waking up” your brain.
“[It] doesn’t have caffeine like coffee does. but it’s a way to activate the brain and sort of wake it up if you’re doing something of interest,” Dr. Scharre said. “The ones that seem to have the most benefit, because it hits the most part of the brains are the ones that have more novelty, use problem solving.”
Games that use more of your brain, like Wordle, which Dr. Scharre said uses parts of your brain like language centers, storage, and problem solving, are better than games that are more remote and require less skill to complete.
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Dr. Scharre added that he believes the sense of accomplishment from completing a moderately difficult task can motivate you to move on to the next task, as well as refresh your mind when you need a break from your day-to-day tasks.
“You don’t want to pick ones that are too hard for you because then you can get frustrated and be upset. So you want to get that right mix of it’s a little hard, but I can figure it out, right? ” Dr. Scharre said. “That increases your endorphins.”
An article by Kim M. Cauldwell and Stephen Bolaji, researchers at Charles Darwin University in Australia, compare conversations about Wordle in the workplace can have a similar impact to “watercooler conversations,” or typical workplace small talk, in enhancing collaboration and workplace culture.
However, Scharre still believes traditional in-person socialization in the workplace can be even more beneficial to brain health and cognitive function.
“In socialization, you have discourse, you’re letting someone else talk, you’re picking up on their facial expressions,” Dr. Scharre said. “They tell a story that reminds you of a story because you’re digging back in your memory, ‘Hey! I got an equally good one. Let me tell you this.’ And then you tell them your story and you’re using words and you’re using more of your brain with socialization.”
