How to Improve Focus and Memory with Strategy Games

In today’s world of relentless notifications and constant task-switching, finding the headspace for deep work can feel like an uphill battle. Many of us find that pervasive "digital noise" drowns out our ability to concentrate, leaving us with shortened attention spans and a struggle to recall simple details.

If your focus is slipping, you're certainly not alone. But the solution might be more engaging than you think.

As occupational therapists, we frequently use purposeful activities to build cognitive capacity. Strategy games—like chess, Go, or even digital simulators—are powerful tools for this. They demand sustained attention, forward-thinking, and mental agility, effectively acting as a gym for your brain.

How Strategy Games Build Focus and Boost Memory

Strategy games are excellent cognitive training tools because they require constant decision-making and resource management. You can't just play on autopilot; you have to analyse situations, anticipate your opponent's moves, and devise complex plans.

From an OT perspective, these games target specific cognitive functions:

• Sustained Attention: The ability to focus on long-term goals and avoid distractions during extended play.
• Alternating Attention: The skill of rapidly switching focus between different game elements, objectives, or opponent actions.
• Problem-Solving: Constantly identifying challenges and generating creative solutions within constraints.
• Working Memory: Holding game states, unit capabilities, and strategic options in your mind to make informed choices.

Games like chess and Go are well-established benchmarks in cognitive science. A 2019 study showed that weekly one-hour chess sessions over six months led to measurable improvements in focussed attention among primary school students.

These benefits extend to individuals of all ages. For those managing ADHD or executive function challenges, the consistent mental exertion involved in strategic gameplay can cultivate a more disciplined and robust approach to focus.

At VennCare, we observe how occupational therapy techniques, often integrating engaging activities, build these capacities for clients across South West Sydney.

Choosing the Best Strategy Game for Your Goals

Choosing the right strategy game involves matching its mechanics to your specific cognitive profile and focus goals.

• Complexity and Learning Curve: Games with a gradual increase in complexity offer a sustained challenge without becoming overwhelming, building sustained attention.
• Pacing and Decision Latency: Games allowing for thoughtful, unhurried decision-making develop deliberate focus. Fast-paced games engage selective attention.
• Feedback Loops: Clear feedback on your actions reinforces learning and keeps you engaged.

Identifying Your Focus Training Needs

Understanding your personal pattern of attention difficulties is key to selecting the right cognitive training.

• Sustained Attention Deficits: Difficulty maintaining concentration on a task for an extended period.
• Selective Attention Issues: Struggling to filter out distractions amidst noise.
• Alternating Attention Problems: Challenges in smoothly switching focus between different tasks.
• Working Memory Limitations: Difficulty holding and manipulating information in your mind.
• Impulsivity: Acting without thinking, common in executive function challenges.

Step-by-Step: Training Your Brain

Assess your current focus levels (sustained attention, selective attention, working memory) on a scale of 1 to 5. Aim for 1-2 sessions per week, each lasting 30-60 minutes. Consistency is more impactful than infrequent, long sessions.

2. Prepare Your Environment

A distraction-free environment is paramount. Silence your phone, close unnecessary tabs, and ensure your gaming time is a productive session for skill development, not just a casual pastime.

3. Tailor Gameplay for Specific Goals

• Selective Attention: Minimise in-game visual clutter and focus on specific objectives.
• Working Memory: Engage with games requiring intricate inventory management or dynamic rule sets.
• Sustained Attention: Opt for games with grand strategic goals that necessitate prolonged concentration without immediate rewards.

Avoid premature moves. Always ask yourself about the worst-case scenario and alternative options. This deliberate pause builds true long-term planning capacity.

Tracking Progress and Troubleshooting

• Distraction: Implement digital focus modes and create a dedicated quiet space.
• Burnout: Schedule regular, short breaks. Listen to your body's signals.
• Transferring Skills: Actively practise "bridging" your focus. Before a non-gaming task, consciously recall the feeling of deep concentration you achieved during play.
• Frustration: Reframe losses as learning opportunities. Analyse your games to identify areas for improvement.

Integrating Strategy Games for Cognitive Improvement

Strategy game mastery extends beyond the screen, offering tangible benefits for overall cognitive function, including focus transfer, problem-solving acuity, enhanced memory, and mental resilience.

For individuals seeking comprehensive, tailored support for focus and memory challenges, particularly those with conditions like ADHD, occupational therapy can provide expert guidance. At VennCare, we offer meticulously tailored therapy sessions based on individual profiles. Explore our tailored services through expert guidance for your needs.