I didn’t have to find out that Solitaire has various cognitive benefits to be convinced to play it. For me, Solitaire has always been a fun pastime, one that I regularly integrate into my daily routine. Solitaire helps me kick off the day with an excellent mental warm-up. Each time, I try to beat my previous high score.
However, integrating Solitaire into my daily activities wasn’t simple, especially since I can be a bit lazy when it comes to managing my routine. That’s why I had to come up with a few checks and balances. These have been really effective for me. I hope that I can help you implement some similarly beneficial strategies.
Why You Should Play Solitaire Daily
The first step to integrating this amazing card game into your day-to-day life is understanding how it can benefit you. The cognitive benefits of Solitaire are often overlooked; some of its advantages might even surprise you.
It would take too long to name every benefit you can reap from playing Solitaire, but here are a few of the most prominent ones:
- Improved problem-solving skills: The way Solitaire challenges you to strategize your moves and make optimal decisions can improve the way you solve problems in your day-to-day life. You’ll find yourself more adept at figuring out solutions. These could relate to things like finding the ideal route when you’re late for work or coming up with a last-minute project for your kid’s science fair.
- Improved memory and concentration: I’ve lost count of the number of studies I’ve come across that highlight Solitaire’s ability to improve your memory and concentration. This makes sense. You must keep track of so many aspects while playing Solitaire that it’s bound to help give your grey matter a boost. Personally, I’ve noticed a significant boost in my memory abilities since incorporating Solitaire into my routine. If anything, I don’t seem to lose my keys as often!
- Patience and discipline: It isn’t something you should be surprised to see on this list, but playing Solitaire does a great job of improving patience and discipline. One of the game’s core features is that you often have to stop and look for the best (non-obvious) moves. If you don’t, then you can end up making suboptimal decisions, which costs you time or points on the table. Regularly playing Solitaire keeps you mindful of the value of patience, both in and out of the game.
Integrating Solitaire into Your Daily Routine
Now that you know how amazing Solitaire can be for your mental health, let’s explore a few ways in which you can introduce it into your daily routine. I had to implement a multi-faceted process to do so. Although everyone is different, the process I used might be helpful for you as well.
Setting Realistic Goals
The first thing I had to recognize was that I wouldn’t be able to immediately alter my daily routine to introduce this mental exercise. I had to start small and slowly work my way up to a healthy, yet moderate, level. So, if you’re planning on introducing Solitaire into your daily routine, then you might want to try starting with just one game a day. Don’t set outrageously challenging goals when you start, or you’ll burn out quickly.
Choosing the Right Time of Day
Finding out which time of day suited me best was one of the biggest steps to regularly playing Solitaire. Some parts of the day are simply too hectic or inconvenient, which can put you in the wrong headspace.
So, how do you find out which time of the day is perfect for slotting in a Solitaire workout? The short answer is that it’s different for everyone. The best way to find the time that works for you is through trial and error. There are, nonetheless, a few general points you can keep in mind:
- Have your daily Solitaire sessions early in the morning. This helps warm up your mind and thereby kick off the day properly.
- Make sure that you’ve had a meal before indulging in your daily Solitaire session. After all, you want to make sure that your brain has some fuel to run on.
- Try to set a small goal whenever you kick off your session. This could be setting a high score or beating the game within a certain time. Goals can keep you motivated and give you a good reason to play.
Balancing Solitaire with Other Activities
The last step to maximizing your Solitaire play involves balancing it with other activities. Solitaire does a great job of keeping your mind sharp, but you can’t skip physical activity just because of that. After all, a healthy body means a healthy mind.
This is why I try to incorporate physical exercise right after my Solitaire sessions. Whether it’s walking, jogging, or going to the gym, complementing Solitaire with physical exercise gives me a great start to my day – both physically and mentally.
Tracking Your Progress
The last element of maximizing your daily Solitaire sessions is tracking your progress based on the goals you’ve set. Comparing my scores from last month to those from this month gives me a sense of pride. It shows me that I’m making progress in my Solitaire pursuits.
You can also consider playing more advanced variants. Let’s say that you’ve accomplished the last goal you set for Klondike Solitaire. You can then start testing the waters with more advanced variants, such as FreeCell and Spider.
Closing Remarks
The purpose of introducing Solitaire into your daily routine is to progressively improve and watch as you reap the benefits. Once you start effectively incorporating Solitaire into your routine, you’ll notice the advantages in no time!
