Being Geek Chic is a blog about one woman navigating the male-dominated industries of production and tech. It's written by Elizabeth Giorgi, Founder, CEO and Director of Mighteor - one of the world's first internet video production companies. Learn more about Mighteor here.
Working in a startup is a truly high stress job. And if you’re a regular reader around here, well, you know that I run a startup of my own. But, add in the fact that most of my best clients are also in startups… And then add on the reality that most of my friends work in startups… And wow, there’s a lot of stress in our young lives. So what do I always suggest we do in order to destress and reset?
Platformer games!
Are you surprised I didn’t say yoga? Yeah, yoga works too. But the ultimate winner for me is still those old fashioned 2d games. It’s not just nostalgia, either. I’ve given this some serious thought. While first person shooters might seem like the obvious choice, I’m not a huge fan of unnecessary shows of wild violence, but that’s not the only reason.
Here are five reasons platformers might be the unexpected stress relief you need:
1. Platformer games allow you to totally escape into a meaningless task while enjoying the feeling of simple accomplishments. Get the coins! Jump high! Run fast! Sometimes it’s the smallest little wins that help us get out of our own heads and re-establish a connection with our lives.
2. Platformer games can be found on virtually every type of device. Your phone, tablet, computer or system are all equipped with platformers on the go. So when I’m having a stressful afternoon, sometimes, I’ll just pull up a quick game on my laptop and enjoy the moment.
3. Platformer games don’t require a ton of background story to get started. I love me a complicated game with hours and hours of playtime, but sometimes you just aren’t capable of putting in that time investment. Hell, I think I probably put half a year into Professor Layton, but I regret nothing!
4. Platformer games now exist for virtually every kind of fandom you can imagine. Whether it’s Pixar themed games or Adventure Time madness or Steven Universe silliness, you can emerge in a world of silly jumping and running with your favorite characters.
5. Platformer games are like escaping into a memory of a simpler time. A time when you used to beg for a Nintendo every day until Christmas when you finally got one. Remember when life was that simple? Yeah, that’s a good reminder: sometimes embracing simplicity is a necessary stress relief.
It’s no huge surprise that video games are used around the world by nerds who need a moment to destress. Or a whole week, you know how it goes. But next time you find yourself in a particularly stressful moment, I truly suggest going for a platformer. You might be surprised how satisfyingly de-stressing the 2d world can be.
