"Several weeks ago, thrown off by a change in routine brought about by the holiday period, I forgot to play Wordle, ending a 200+ day streak of success. I was bummed out, maybe worse than bummed out. I was angry at myself for failing to keep on top of things, severing my streak after I'd set the personal goal of hitting a full year of consecutive correct Wordles. The next day, encouraged by the app to start a new streak, I successfully completed the Wordle,"
"I have not missed playing Wordle at all. Neither have I missed Spelling Bee and Connections, two other New York Times games that I engaged with daily. I'd already been souring on Spelling Bee as I'd experienced an occasionally distressing time suck on trying to get to "Genius" on every single puzzle, as though that mattered. I'd been enjoying Connections for a few months as I learned the nuances of how the game worked, but that experience was also increasingly rote."
A long daily habit of playing Wordle and other New York Times games ended after a missed day turned into a conscious choice not to play. The streak had produced strong emotional investment, guilt, and a goal of a full-year streak that felt meaningful while pursued. Other games produced similar pressures: Spelling Bee became a distressing time sink chasing “Genius,” and Connections grew rote as nuances were learned. Stepping away removed that compulsion and revealed that scores and streaks can reshape attention, motivation, and habit, often at the cost of autonomy and time.
Read at Inside Higher Ed | Higher Education News, Events and Jobs
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