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.
Last week I had the distinct pleasure of talking with a reporter about women who embrace their geekiness. And while you and I both know that we aren’t really a trend or temporary fad, the world does seem to be taking notice of our existence recently, both in good and bad ways. One of the totally innocent, but fascinating questions this reporter asked was: do you ever feel ashamed of your geekdom?
And the truth is, No. I never, ever have. And perhaps it’s because I’ve been very fortunate. Sure, I was made fun of in Middle School, because I was the Hermione Granger of the class before I knew that I was. I was smart. I was vocal. And I was excited about learning. From a young age, I so resented the idea that I was somehow a weirdo for being engaged in what I was supposed to be engaged in. Perhaps I’ve taken a lot of that with me as I’ve grown up. Just as it wouldn’t have crossed my mind as a 14 year old girl to be ashamed of my intellectual pursuits, it wouldn’t strike me now to feel any amount of embarrassment about my lifestyle as an adult nerd.
Are we born nerds? Or do we learn it? Are we pre-disposed to our geekdom? I’m essentially proposing the nature vs. nurture of geek DNA questions right now. Either way, there is no reason to feel shame.
Everything about life is an evolution. Whether it’s how we perceive ourselves or how others see us, we aren’t born as geeks straight out of the womb. I have yet to hear of a single news report of a baby’s first words being: Live Long and Prosper. (Although, if that does happen, people, you need to let me know!)
The truth is that we start to take on our passions over our lifetimes through the influence of our family, friends, media and culture. All of our being, and specifically our interests, are made up of a perfect equation: time plus influence.
Neither of my parents would categorize themselves as geeks. My mom is the outdoorsy type with a love of news, healthy eating and old western movies. My dad is a perfect confluence of Italian-American stereotypes: fully devoted to his football team and his church, with a dash of passion for his pets too. Despite this, whether or not my parents realize it, they probably contributed more than anyone to my formation as a geek. My mom made us spend at least one afternoon every week at the library, which meant both my brother and I read voraciously. My dad’s parents introduced him to the Nintendo, which in turn meant we had to get a Nintendo. And of course, who could forget the fact that my dad spent a hefty portion of my childhood recreating my favorite movies in parade float format. One of my dad’s girlfriends insisted on getting a computer in the mid-90s and so, well, INTERNET! Throw in a few years of bullying and well, you’re almost certain to become a full-blown nerd.
So no, I’m not ashamed that I became this. In fact, I’m quite proud. Because as I told the reporter: there’s not a single part of my life that hasn’t been improved because I decided to embrace my nerdy tendencies.
Everyone can use a good pun in their life. This “URL Link Tee” from Threadless is a nice reminder to laugh about our clothing choices every once and a while. Plus, it’s on clearance!
Here I’m pairing a camel blazer (Helmut Lang) with navy, because they’re a perfect and underutilized combination. With a pair of skinny ankle pants, you’ll look sharp and have an edge of class too.
If you roll up your blazer sleeve, you can add a stack of vintage inspired bangles (Forever 21, starting at $5.80) to add some more color to the whole look. The shoes (Target, $34.99) aren’t quite perfect for the winter months here in Minnesota, but the red and camel combination have me dreaming of open toe-friendly months.
If you’ve got a geeky item that you’d like us to style for work, please send it to us at [email protected].
You know those games that hang you up for days? Maybe months? I’ve been stuck on the final boss of Super Princess Peach for Nintendo DS for approximately 2 months. I should be embarrassed, but time gets away from me easily. It’s a great game, but sometimes when I get stuck, I give up… temporarily.
So how am I going to get the gall up to beat that bad boy?
1. Road trippin’ it. I have a long car ride ahead of me this coming Saturday. Nothing gives me more a gaming rush than knowing that I have a deadline for arrival at which point the game has to return to the purse. Road trips are great for your time management skills and the perfect occasion for handheld gaming.
2. Google the goods. There’s probably a reason why you’re stuck on the game of the moment. The reason I’m stuck on SPP? I can’t figure out how to make Peach jump high enough for one particular section and still retain my cloud floating capabilities. Googling may be cheating in some people’s minds, but to me, you’d ask for directions if you were lost - same applies to gaming.
3. Pick a runner-up. There’s usually a game that I’m watching and waiting for to play next. In this case, it’s October 17th’s Professor Layton and the Last Specter. In order to play it, I’m making a deal with myself that I can’t play until I beat SPP. Now all I have to do is be strong and win.
What do you do to keep yourself motivated to beat a game that feels unbeatable?
Every once in a very great while, I find an item which seems like it shouldn’t even be real - it’s that fantastic. Corset Wonderland’s Nintendo Lolita Skirt is equal parts geeky, pretty and well-designed. The shape is perfect for a lot of body shapes and transitions from season to season to season.
You’ve probably heard a lot of fashion “experts” say this, but a crisp white shirt is a wardrobe staple. This one (Old Navy, $26.50) could be tucked into the skirt with nearly all the buttons buttoned and the red necklace (Piperlime, $45) on top of that. It’s a subtle hint to vintage style and on trend right now.
If anyone ever told you that wearing green and red together makes you look like a Christmas tree: punch them. A green purse paired (Cole Haan, $229) with an equally colorful bracelet (Banana Republic, $35) adds to the preppy look. Don’t be afraid of pairing these colors! Which is why Essie’s “Well Red” is a nice addition to the colorful look as well.
I can’t forget to mention my love of “greige” and scallops. These grey/beige AKA “greige” booties (Target, $20.98) with these scallops that remind me of the clouds are charming and a great neutral to add to the look.
Corset Wonderland will make the skirt custom to your size for $75, which is a great deal for custom clothing.
If you’ve got a geeky item that you’d like us to style for work, please send it to us at [email protected].
