5 Online Games and Puzzles That Help Me Reset My Thoughts

It’s well known that people with ADHD like myself struggle to regulate focus. But contrary to what you might think, our ADHD brains benefit from playing games as a distraction from the real-world anxiety.

So here are 5 of my favourite online games that help me press the reset button and mean I can carry on with my day.

1. Solitaire

Ever since I was a kid I’ve always enjoyed Solitaire (even in the Windows 3.1 days!). For the uninitiated, it’s a one-player card game where you have to arrange cards by suit or rank in a set order, but with strict rules that can’t be broken, such as how many cards you can move at a time.

I find Solitaire helps me reset because it’s so simple but also requires enough thought to keep my brain stimulated. The average game also takes about ten minutes to play, so it’s a nice break when I’m in-between writing articles.

2. Logic Puzzles

Logic puzzles will forever be a favourite of mine, and not just because I grew up with a dad obsessed with them. When I’m feeling bored, under stimulated and need to really put my brain to the test, I move towards logic puzzles to keep me sane.

Logic puzzles come in many different guises. But my favourite has to be logic grid puzzles such as nonograms or zebra puzzles, where numbers or words are used to give clues to answer a set of circumstances.

In the example clue “John does not wear a red or green hat, but finished one place behind David”, suppose you already know David won the race from a previous clue. Then John must have finished second in the race.

3. Three-in-a-Row

Anyone who is familiar with the classic three-in-a-row (Hello Candy Crush!) will know how addictive these games can be! I tend to be more selective about when I play these kinds of games because I get so engrossed in playing them. But when I’ve got a spare hour or two to kill, there’s nothing I enjoy more than getting lost in a game of three-in-a-row!

The aim of the game is to try and get three of the same item in a row, but you can only do so with adjacent moves. In most versions of the game, these pieces are then replaced with new variations, often dropping in from the top of the screen to fill the gaps.

4. Crosswords

As a writer I’ve always been fascinated with words. And, for those who love a challenge like me, you can’t beat a good crossword. Crosswords come in all levels of difficulty, so they’re great for anyone wanting to test their general knowledge as well as their logic skills.

If you’re not as clued up on the clues (no pun intended) however, then you can play the more logical adaptation called Letter Logic that takes a crossword grid and gives you the answers. But you have to work out where they fit on the grid based on the letters in the word!

5. Hidden Object Puzzles

Hidden object puzzles are my go-to for when I’m feeling particularly anxious and need to focus without being overstimulated. They need enough attention to shift my focus to something more calming but at the same time don’t need as much brain power as something like a crossword.

That’s also why I play them with my kids. My kids in particular are very visual learners and always enjoy looking for clues and playing hide and seek, so this is great!

Something for Everyone

The great thing about these puzzle games is that there’s something for people of all abilities and interests. So if you’re ever finding yourself bored, distracted or anxious, why not give one of these games a try and see if you can find your reset button to be even more productive and relaxed than ever!

Keep reading our articles for more inspiring content!

Last Updated on October 29, 2022 by Neurodadversity