You Can Make Work "Addictive" by Playing Games!

Your brain loves Tetris. But what if it could love work just as much? Find out how to harness your game-playing instincts for unbeatable productivity.

Author

Hoyin Cheung
July 05, 2024

Hey Future Leaders!

Do you ever feel like you're always chasing one task after another but never quite catching up?

Now, think about it: your favorite puzzle game could be the secret to getting more done. Welcome to "Cognitive Tetris" - a cool way to make your work feel as fun and addictive as stacking blocks.

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Remember how you'd lose track of time playing Tetris? That's called "flow" - when you're so into what you're doing, everything else fades away. It's not just fun; it's your brain's way of helping you focus and feel good while you work.

So, how exactly do you "play" Cognitive Tetris? 

Here are the rules:

Chunk It Up!

Like positioning Tetris blocks, break big projects into bite-sized tasks. Now that overwhelming assignment feels manageable, with mini-wins as you clear each "line."

Race the Clock: The escalating speed in Tetris keeps you deliciously on edge. Recreate this by setting a timer for focused sprints followed by short breaks. This faux time pressure kickstarts your flow engine.

Seek Challenges: In Tetris, the real thrill comes from clearing multiple lines or finessing tricky formations. Identify engaging challenge zones in your work and lean into them for that satisfying mastery feeling.

Celebrate Tiny Triumphs: Each cleared Tetris line brings audiovisual rewards that fuel your motivation. Build small celebrations into your flow for the same dopamine boost.

Find Your Sweet Spot: Flow loves when challenge meets skill level. Regularly gauge task difficulties to maintain that perfectly tuned engagement.

At its core, cognitive Tetris is about injecting playfulness into your productive process. It taps into the same built-in motivators that make games irresistible – novelty, challenge, and the pursuit of mastery.

Think about when you've become utterly absorbed in a game, blind to phone notifications or mind-wanderings. That's the level of immersion and focus we're going for! By introducing game dynamics, even the dullest duties start feeling like engaging puzzles to conquer.

But the perks of Cognitive Tetris extend beyond just checking off more boxes.

You're essentially rewiring your brain to associate positive feelings with tasks you may have previously dreaded. This psychological shift impacts your overall job satisfaction and motivation.

Imagine greeting each workday with the same enthusiasm as booting up your favorite game - we have experienced this at Hermessi.

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Challenges aren't frustrations – they're opportunities to level up.

And that feeling of accomplishment becomes just as irresistible as clearing four Tetris lines simultaneously.

Of course, reality is trickier to navigate than a Nintendo game screen. Constant curveballs like distractions, shifting priorities, and unmovable constraints can easily disrupt your flow. But that's exactly why Cognitive Tetris is so powerful.

And because Tetris principles are surprisingly flexible, you can apply this method to any industry or role. Writers, developers, project managers - anyone can experience productivity gains from chunking tasks, embracing "juicy" challenges, and celebrating micro-wins.

It's time to quit churning through tasks while feeling bored and burned out. With Cognitive Tetris, you can start viewing your entire workday as a rewarding game to play and master. You'll achieve satisfying results AND enjoy the journey thanks to occasional flow trances.

Don't settle for boring old to-do lists. It's time to turn your workday into a game you actually want to play!

By bringing a bit of Tetris magic to your tasks, you can surge your focus, feel more satisfied, and get more done - all while having a blast.

Ready to make getting things done feel less like a chore? Try the Cognitive Tetris trick and watch your productivity soar.

Who knew crossing things off your list could be this much fun?

Catch you all in the next one…

Hoyin Cheung,
Hermessi.com

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