Casual Games as a Brain Break

When you've been staring at the same task for a long time, your focus slips. A short break can help you come back with a fresh perspective. And a quick game is a fun way to spend a few minutes away from work or study.

The key word is quick. A good brain break lasts five to ten minutes, not an hour.

The best games for breaks have rounds that end naturally after a few minutes. Ninja Knife Pro, Snake Pro, and Tap Bounce Basketball all have very short rounds. A puzzle in Sorting Balls or a hole in Quick Golf is another good stopping point.

Avoid games that are hard to put down in the middle, or that keep you hooked with "just one more level" for too long.

One popular way to structure breaks is the Pomodoro Technique. You work for 25 minutes, then take a 5-minute break. After four rounds, you take a longer break of 15 to 30 minutes.

A short game fits neatly into those 5-minute breaks. Set a timer so you know exactly when to stop.

Some games give your brain a different kind of workout. Number games like Awesome Math Quiz and Number Cubes keep your mental math sharp. Searching Words builds vocabulary. Animal Cards - Brain Edition is good memory practice. Wood Crate and Martian Connect train planning and problem-solving.

Switching to a different kind of thinking for a few minutes can be refreshing, even if it's still using your brain.

The hardest part of a game break is stopping. Set a timer before you start, and when it goes off, finish your current round and close the tab.

If you find yourself regularly playing far longer than planned, try keeping your phone in another room while you work, or save games for after you've finished a task.