Over the years, word games including an overly popular game called “Wordle” and puzzles have become well loved. Puzzles are a fun way to entertain yourself, but it also can help keep your brain healthy. When people do puzzles on a regular basis they don’t realize that doing them can actually have a bunch of benefits.
What is Wordle?
Along with a bunch of other games on the New York Times, Wordle is a web based word game where you get six chances to guess a five letter word.
Everyday, people complete the Wordle. People tend to love Wordle because there is a new one everyday that everyone will try to beat. Everyone can compete to try to see who can get it first with the least amount of tries.
Wordle bragging, one of the newest forms of humble bragging, has taken over social media. Solving this puzzle in three, two or even the first try gives hard-core wordlers a sense of pride.
New York Times Games
Since the launch of “The Crossword” in the New York Times (NYT) paper in 1942, the NYT has attracted many problem solvers around the United States. Now, in 2024, the NYT has created a group of games that are a casual collection of print and online word and logic games. Currently, the NYT Games are especially popular because they appeal to all skill levels so everyone can enjoy playing everyday.
The games include:
- Spelling Bee- How many words you can make with 7 letters.
- Strands- Find the hidden words and uncover today’s theme.
- Connections- Given 16 words and find what is common in groups of 4.
- Tiles- Match elements and keep the chain going.
- Letter Box- Create words using letters around the square.
- Sudoku -Numbers game minus the math.
- The Mini Crossword
- Wordle
https://www.nytco.com/products/games/
What are the benefits of doing a puzzle everyday?
People seem to wonder if this actually helps your brain. Studies show that doing a puzzle everyday like the Wordle can boost your problem solving skills, help lower anxiety and depression rates, and improve attention and memory. Brain teasers can also improve cognitive function and test mental capacity.
According to CNN Health, scientists have studied that while you are doing word games it uses a part of the brain called the prefrontal cortex region. This exercises specific brain “muscles” of visual memory and attention that will help with manipulating information over a short period of time.
In other words, this means taking a mental sketch pad where you hold the visual information to maneuver it. This is a special skill that not all people are good at, but if you are good at the Wordle, you are skilled at it.
At Pentucket, many students and teachers do puzzles, Ms. Ducolon is one of them. “Every single day I play the NYT Connections. I’m on a streak of 15 days and I’m going to try to keep it up, and I get really angry when I don’t get it.”
She was then asked if she knew any of the benefits of playing mind games.
“I have read an article that says that playing mind games and puzzles will decrease the likelihood of obtaining dementia in later years, and that older people should do it because when you are old your brain is less active. However, I do want to note that I have also read that reading a book is just as useful.”
Another student, a sophomore Isabella Martins, plays word games every day. She loves the NYT games including the Connections, Wordle, Strands, and Tiles. I asked her if she knew the benefits of doing puzzles and word games everyday and she said “ Not really, I just know that it can help you learn new vocabulary”
Pentucket sophomore, Francesca Peltier, said that she loves the NYT games and that she tries to do the Wordle everyday. Once again she does not know much about the benefits.
Today, you adults and teens have seemed to become attached to these games, while the young generations have continuously gotten their attention spans shortened. Puzzles and logic games serve as good ways to positively stimulate young minds.
Nowadays, people are living their lives on the go more and more; so it is especially important to find ways to stimulate the mind and think critically. This will ultimately keep brains active and sharp which will help in the long run.
Word and logic puzzles are an entertaining and fun thing to do in your free time that comes with countless benefits and even a competition if you so choose.
