Level Up To Reduce Stress — How to Convince Your Boss Video Games Belong At Work

• Mounting research links playing video games to improved cognitive and communication skills. 
• According to the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study, children who play at least three hours of video games a day “were faster and more accurate” when it came to cognitive tasks. 
• Not all video games are created equal, and each video game comes with its own share of benefits.  

Video games often get a bad rap, with stereotypes suggesting that being a gamer is tied to laziness and social ineptness. 

However, mounting research links playing video games to improved cognitive and communication skills. 

According to the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study, children who play at least three hours of video games a day “were faster and more accurate” when it came to cognitive tasks. 

So who’s to say these benefits can’t be applied to professionals? 

Convincing your boss 

Nearly all offices have some sort of break room where coworkers often congregate around a water cooler and chat during work breaks. Many offices even have recreational options like ping pong tables to build comradery and help workers relive stress or shift their minds into a more creative space for brainstorming. 

Video games can serve the same purpose as a great way to relieve stress and boost creativity. Playing video games at work can be a great way to boost your cognitive skills and nurture workplace collaboration.  

Making the suggestion to swap out a common ping pong table for approval to play games for a limited portion of the workday could make great sense for companies that want to add a unique feature for prospective employees.  

Whether it’s a brain-training game or a challenging puzzle game, there are plenty of options to choose from. However, not all video games are created equal — and each game comes with its own share of benefits. 

Here are some of the best video games to play at work for improved cognition and collaboration:   

1. Lumosity 

This popular brain-training app offers a variety of games designed to improve memory, attention, flexibility, and speed. Lumosity’s games are short and simple, making them perfect for quick breaks at work. 

2. Monument Valley 

A beautifully designed puzzle game, Monument Valley challenges players to navigate optical illusions and impossible geometry. It’s a great game to play during a work break as it requires creative thinking and problem-solving skills. 

3. Chess 

This board game is a classic for a reason. Chess has been found to be one of the best ways to improve strategic thinking, memory and decision-making skills.  

Chess is easy to pick up, but takes years to master, making it a great long-term choice for improving cognitive abilities at work. Plus, there are countless virtual options that make it easy for coworkers to compete with one another. 

4. Wordplay 

The Wordplay app offers a variety of word games designed to improve vocabulary, spelling and memory skills. Wordplay uses puzzles and brainteasers to help improve cognitive abilities and is perfect for quick breaks at work.   

5. Call of Duty 

While someone may scoff at the idea that playing a first-person shooter video game could help with daily tasks, Call of Duty offers one-of-a-kind collaboration.   

Because the game requires legitimate teamwork, it normalizes being in constant communication with fellow team members — a skill that can easily be applied to workplace collaboration.