A gaming industry insider has suggested that short, structured breaks playing casual video games could be a powerful tool for improving focus and preventing burnout during the workday.
The proposition comes from Neal Taparia, founder of gaming platform Unwind Media, who advocates for a method he calls the “90-10 gaming trick”. The technique is straightforward: 90 minutes of concentrated work, followed by a strict 10-minute break for a casual game. This cycle is designed to align with the brain’s natural rhythms, offering a cognitive reset that can help maintain productivity throughout the day.
The idea challenges the traditional view that gaming at work is inherently a distraction. Instead, it frames specific types of gaming as a form of “active rest”.
This approach is grounded in the concept of ultradian rhythms, which are natural cycles of brain activity. Research, such as a study on sustained attention available via PubMed Central, suggests that most people can only maintain high levels of focus for about 90 minutes. After this period, mental fatigue begins to set in, and productivity drops sharply.
Taparia’s method proposes that instead of fighting this natural dip, workers should embrace it with a controlled break. The key, he argues, is the type of break. While scrolling through social media or checking emails might seem like downtime, these activities can often increase stress. In contrast, a simple puzzle game engages the mind in a low-stakes, different way, allowing the parts of the brain responsible for deep work to recover.
However, not just any game will do. The recommendation is to stick to light, single-player puzzle games. Think of classics like Tetris, Minesweeper, or modern equivalents such as Candy Crush or Taparia’s own 1000 Mines. These games engage pattern recognition and problem-solving skills without inducing a stress response. They are predictable and, crucially, easy to stop when the timer goes off.
Geek Native readers who favour epic RPGs or competitive online shooters should take note. The advice is to steer clear of intense, story-driven, or multiplayer games for these short breaks. Such games can flood the system with adrenaline and are more likely to leave you agitated or wanting to continue playing, defeating the purpose of a refreshing break. Save the raid on the latest dungeon for after hours.
The technique also provides a small dopamine boost from achieving simple, clear goals within the game. This can be especially motivating when long-term work projects feel overwhelming or lack immediate feedback.
For the 90-10 method to be effective, discipline is essential. The core guidelines are:
- Do: Set a timer for 10 minutes and adhere to it strictly.
- Don’t: Let the break stretch beyond the allotted time. The goal is a reset, not procrastination.
- Do: Choose single-player games with clear stopping points.
- Don’t: Play multiplayer games that rely on others’ schedules or complex games with engaging storylines that are hard to quit.
- Do: Keep the game on a separate device or browser tab to create a clear boundary from your work.
Neal Taparia, Founder of Unwind Media, told the press;
The biggest misconception about productivity is that it requires constant, grinding focus. But cognitive endurance works like physical endurance, so you need strategic recovery periods to maintain peak performance. Taking these micro-breaks doesn’t mean avoiding work. Rather, it’s about optimizing your brain’s capacity to do even better work. When you give your mind the right kind of reset, you come back sharper, more creative, and better equipped to tackle complex problems. It’s about working smarter, not harder.”
Taparia, of course, has skin in this game as 1000 Mines is exactly the sort of gaming platform he is recommending.
Image credit: Jonathan Borba.
