Perhaps you’ve got a spare five minutes at the end of your lunch break, or you’ve got a few minutes to kill on the commute to work. If so, why not try out a five minute game to wake your brain up? We’re all prone to after lunch sleepiness, or that early morning brain fog before we’ve grabbed a coffee, so why not combat it? These games are a mixture of mobile apps, physical games, and PC titles, so whatever device you have and whatever budget you’re on, there’ll be something to suit you!
Duolingo
Duolingo is an excellent choice for anybody hoping to pick up a second language. The app teaches you everything from the basics right up to more complex language skills in a huge variety of languages. So, whether you’re planning a trip abroad and want to be able to order
your lunch with confidence, or you’re hoping to relocate to another country, Duolingo has you covered. The free version has everything you need, but if you want to learn more quickly there are two different paid-for options that promise to speed things along for you.
Poker
While a game of poker in-person might take all evening, a game of online poker often only lasts for five minutes or so. If you’re pushed for time then it can be a good option to give your brain a quick workout without eating into the rest of your day. Poker wakes up your brain by asking you to think tactically about the hands that you’re dealt, whilst simultaneously trying to anticipate the hands that your opponents might be able to make. Games of incomplete information (like poker) are great for encouraging our brains to think creatively.
Wordle
The whole puzzle section of the New York Times is well worth a read if you want to boost your brain of a morning. The Wordle puzzle is excellent because it’s quick to complete, but really gets you using your language skills. If you’ve not played before then the aim is simple: to guess the five-letter word in six tries or fewer. Starting with a word that’s got a few vowels as well as some more common consonants is a good way to begin. Then, concentrate on paying attention to the clues (the letter colours) and narrowing down your options.
Chess
Chess is the original thinking man’s game and it’s now easier than ever to play on the move. Chess.com is a great website to pick and they’ve also released an app for those who prefer a mobile format. Their puzzle of the day should take you under five minutes and always aims to provide a valuable insight into an element of chess strategy. If you want a further brain workout then you can choose to play an AI-powered bot to see how you fare, or be matched up with an actual person with a chess ranking that’s the same as yours.
Crossword
We’re not saying you need to load up the New York Times website again, but their mini crossword is great fun. The words are a maximum of six letters long and the clues aren’t cryptic, so you should be done in well under five minutes. If you’re not, keep practising! There’s a new one every day. Alternatively, you could tackle the daily crossword from another trusted source, such as The Guardian, The Times or Dictionary.com.
Sudoku
Our final recommendation is Sudoku. You’ll find this in newspapers and magazines as well as on online sites and mobile apps, so it’s super easy to get your hands on. The game requires you to fit the numbers one through nine into a nine by nine grid. The numbers can only appear once in each row of nine, each column of nine, and each square of nine. It sounds simple, but by the time you reach more difficult puzzles it can be a real head scratcher.
