Imagine this: you stroll into Homeroom on a dull Tuesday morning when you can barely reach your desk without fainting. And yet, that sensation completely turns around after you use the panacea for all high school students faced with tedious mornings. Your mood shoots up, you feel active, and you’re excited for the rest of your day. What is this mystery remedy? Of course, it’s The New York Times! You get your Macbook out to play Wordle, then the Mini, and finally Connections.  Although simple, these games help stimulate your brain, fixing your mornings.

The New York Times reported an annual 8 billion plays of all their games or an average of 22 million plays per day. Surely, you or a friend have played one of these games across the last year. Some extremists can even play the NYT games daily, striving to maintain their streak.. But, what’s all the fuss about? Why do these games stimulate peoples’ brains? 

A human mind is programmed to not like hard tasks, which is psychologically proven. People associate “difficult” with negativity. Humans would rather stay in their comfort zone, than be in a uncomfortable and challenging situation. However, there is a huge cognitive effect with stepping out of your comfort zone. But, as is always the case with science, the answers are complex. Brain health is built up by a variety of factors, such as your physical health, the enviornment you are in, your friendships and relationships, the amount of sleep and nutrition you get, and your stress levels. Therefore, it can’t be assumed that a New York Times game solely benefits you. Sure, it can definitely help, however there are a ton of other factors. 

However, NYT games will get your brain engaged, which is essential. When you play a NYT game, which is usually challenging, you have to think critically and use your problem solving skills. By using these skills, key parts of your brain will be activated, such as your prefrontal cortex. Your prefrontal cortex is associated with tasks such as decision making, problem solving, and memory. Even though a player might think it’s a “fun little waste of time”, this game serves as a warm up, preparing you for your day ahead. This explains why you feel so much more active after finishing these puzzles, as it’s probably the second most challenging thing you do in the morning (with the first being actually waking up). A NYT game gets you thinking and remembering, which is never a bad thing. Although it is not an average high schooler’s problem to worry about dementia, playing word games every morning does alleviate some of the risks or symptoms associated with it.

Although not a physicial benefit, winning a NYT game releases a lot of dopamine, which is also a reason why so many people are addicted to it. By releasing dopamine, a “feel-good” hormone, it uplifts the players day, if they did win. This leaves the player happy, which is just as important as the other benefits.

So although your average morning routine might not make you the next Albert Einstein, New York Time games can still get you thinking and get you active for the rest of your day.