Cravings can be extremely powerful, often overwhelming even our most diligent attempts at self-control. However, there is a playful and enjoyable technique that can actually help you overcome cravings and develop your willpower, and it all boils down to playing the right kind of games.
Games as a Tool Against Cravings
As difficult as it may be to believe, playing games on your smartphone can serve as an effective defense against binge eating or other unhealthy habits. This is because these types of games can serve as willpower training, ultimately helping strengthen your ability to exercise self-control.
Researchers at the University of Plymouth in England discovered that playing the video game Tetris for just three minutes can significantly weaken food cravings and even help counteract urges to engage in other destructive behaviors like drug use, smoking, and alcohol consumption.
How exactly does Tetris help combat cravings? The answer lies in how the game affects our brain.
The Tetris Effect
Tetris, a game that involves fitting different shapes of blocks as they descend across the screen, works as a sort of bait and switch with our brain. By becoming absorbed in the game, the parts of our brain associated with cravings begin to lose focus.
According to researcher Jackie Andrade, who teaches at Plymouth’s School of Psychology and the Cognition Institute, “We think the Tetris effect happens because craving involves imagining the experience of consuming a particular substance or indulging in a particular activity. Playing a visually interesting game like Tetris occupies the mental processes that support that imagery; it is hard to imagine something vividly and play Tetris at the same time.”
When researchers examined the Tetris effect across a week-long study involving more than 30 participants, they found that the ability of Tetris to distract from cravings remained consistent throughout the study. Researcher Jon May explains, “The impact of Tetris on craving was consistent across the week and on all craving types. People played the game 40 times on average, but the effect did not seem to wear off.”
This finding is significant because it implies that the Tetris effect isn’t simply the result of a novel experience or unusual game mechanism; rather, it has a lasting impact on our brain’s ability to resist cravings.
Developing Willpower Through Games
So how can you apply these findings to your own life and use games like Tetris to help bolster your willpower and overcome cravings?
It’s important to remember that using games to help fight off cravings should be part of a bigger strategy, rather than the sole tactic for reducing cravings. Engaging in games can provide temporary relief and help you get past an initial craving, but the ultimate goal should be to develop the mental fortitude needed to resist cravings without any external assistance.
There are several ways you can work on developing this willpower. One approach involves practicing mindfulness techniques, which can help you become better at recognizing cravings as they emerge and develop the ability to let them pass without acting on them. Building a support network of friends, family, or even online communities can also be invaluable in reinforcing your resolve to resist cravings.
Additionally, consider supplementing game playing with other healthier activities, like exercise or engaging in a creative hobby, to help replace the cravings with more positive, fulfilling experiences.
Ultimately, the key to using games like Tetris effectively is to view them as a stepping stone toward building better willpower and self-control. Incorporate games into a broader, well-rounded strategy for combating cravings, and you’ll have a powerful and enjoyable tool at your disposal for maintaining a healthier lifestyle.
