Why playing Wordle (and other brain-taxing puzzles) every day is good for your health

Wordle, the simple-yet-addictive online word game, took the world by storm in 2022.

The concept is easy to understand: guess the mystery five-letter word in up to six tries, and boast about your results to your friends, family, colleagues, and social media followers.

Having had only 90 daily players in November 2021, following an acquisition by the New York Times in January 2022, millions of people now play the simple word puzzle every day.

Wordle can certainly be addictive – but beyond daily enjoyment with the occasional bout of frustration, could Wordle actually affect the way your brain works? Studies have shown that word games could provide you with much more than competitive wordplay among friends.

Read on to find out how brain-taxing puzzles like Wordle might help sharpen your cognitive function.

Word games can be like weightlifting for your brain

Exercising your body is crucial. Making sure your muscles are strong and stretched is important for your long-term health, your mood, your sleep and your concentration.

Just like your body, your brain needs regular exercise to remain at its healthiest.

Research conducted by psychologist Rebecca Marcus, published by Healthline, claims that word games and puzzles can be like weightlifting for your mind – engaging your brain in challenging puzzles can help improve its “muscularity” and “fitness”.

With improved mental fitness, you could find yourself better able to concentrate, and be more resilient and cope better with difficult situations that arise everyday life.

Challenging your mind with word games can enhance your mood

Research shows that puzzle games like Wordle could boost your mood.

Not only is challenging your brain good for feelings of satisfaction, fun, and concentration but, in the case of Wordle, sharing your results with friends and family can keep you socially engaged.

According to neuroscientist Renetta Weaver, “Wordle presents a challenge that our brain is motivated to solve. When we aren’t able to solve the challenge, we are given the answer, and that ‘a-ha moment’ brings calm to our stressed brain.”

So, a seemingly trivial word game could actually help soothe your brain and boost your mood and help you feel more sociable too.

For older players, Wordle and other online puzzles can improve cognitive function

Research conducted by the International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry confirmed that “the frequency of word puzzle use is directly related to cognitive function in adults aged 50 and over”.

Indeed, it has long been documented by psychiatrists and other medical professionals that games like Wordle aren’t just fun but are in fact helpful for maintaining proper cognitive function, particularly in older people.

Challenging yourself to find patterns within word games or number puzzles, could help your brain to stay at peak function for longer.

If you’re approaching retirement age, you could be concerned about keeping your brain sharp as you age – and Wordle and other word games could help you achieve that goal.

Wordle can provide a few minutes of relief from other daily stressors

One of the things that makes Wordle unique is the fact that it doesn’t ask you for more. You have six tries to guess one word. After that, you must wait until tomorrow to have another go.

In contrast, most other gaming apps try to find ways to hook you into playing more, potentially creating more stress, especially if you feel that playing distracts you from important tasks and social interaction.

Instead, Wordle offers simple light relief.

You may find the few minutes you spend playing the game becomes a much-needed respite at the start, middle or end of your day. You can enjoy a moment of brain-taxing fun all to yourself, without becoming hooked on a game that will distract you from your obligations.

If you love playing Wordle, you could find that over time the game improves your vocabulary, concentration, memory, and even your mood.

Please note:

This article is for general information only and does not constitute advice. The information is aimed at retail clients only.