Home
>
Positive Attitude Tips
>
Managing Life Changes the Tetris Way (or How to Let the Blocks Fall with Skill and Grace)

Managing Life Changes the Tetris Way (or How to Let the Blocks Fall with Skill and Grace)

Are you undergoing a major life change? Or merely trying to manage the daily barrage of things hurtling your way? In either case, you might feel you spend most of your time maneuvering through an endless stream of new challenges.

If so, take a lesson from the popular video game Tetris. If you're not familiar with Tetris, the game is played with different-shaped blocks which fall in random order from the top of the playing screen. Your goal is to rotate the blocks "mid-air" so that, upon landing at the bottom, they fit together to form solid rows which then disappear. You earn points for each row you successfully remove. The game ends when non-fitting blocks stack up all the way to the top of the screen.

So, what does this simple game have to do with managing life changes? Believe it or not, there are many similarities.

1. Create space for randomness. Perhaps the most obvious correlation is that Tetris blocks fall randomly and continuously, much like life. In the game, the best way to handle this is to have enough time and space to decide how you want to place the next falling block. In life, leave yourself some extra time and space as well. Don't overschedule or overextend yourself, particularly during a big change. Give yourself enough buffer room to handle whatever comes along.

2. Pay attention. The key to Tetris is to pay attention to several things at once: spaces, block shapes and orientation, number of incomplete rows. In life change, it's important not only to be aware of new external circumstances, but also to shifts occurring inside of you. A successful life change includes a personal transition as you learn to identify with your new situation.

3. Rotate your perspective. The key strategy in Tetris is to rotate each block so it fits perfectly in an available space upon landing. In life, we do best when we remain flexible and view our situation from different perspectives. Ask yourself what someone you admire would do in your situation. Force-fitting answers based on old ideas or patterns can leave us stuck and frustrated.

4. Don't let debris build up. Tetris blocks pile up quickly when you don't remove old rows; it gets harder to rotate and fit new blocks as the pile grows. This same thing happens in life when we let old baggage build up. When making big changes, ask yourself "What's no longer working for me? What can I let go of?"

5. Plan for the hard stuff. Some Tetris blocks are inherently easier to fit than others, so it's best to leave spaces that match those blocks. In life, some unexpected changes (car trouble, company dropping in) are much easier to deal with than others (job layoff, major illness). It doesn't hurt to have a contingency plan for the big stuff. Not only will you be more prepared if the time comes, but the process of planning for big changes gives you more confidence in handling the smaller stuff.

6. Look ahead. Tetris has a setting that allows you to briefly preview the next block to come. While we don't have a "preview" setting in life, we do have a powerful alternative: our imagination. Use your creativity to play with different scenarios, and experiment with new, innovative solutions during your change.

7. Change strategies. In Tetris, you can adopt different strategies for removing rows: trying to eliminate one row at a time, or working several rows at once. It makes sense during a big change to be open to different strategies as well. Sometimes quick, decisive action is the key. Other times, being still and listening to your intuition uncovers the best solutions.

8. Use a soft focus. To get good at Tetris, you learn how to relax and get into a "zone," softly focusing on the whole field, not just individual blocks. This soft, relaxed focus works well in life, too. Zeroing in on individual setbacks can be taxing. Instead, step back and see your situation from a wider perspective, one dramatic chapter in the book that is your life. Ask yourself "How am I different because of this? How does this help me be a better person?"

9. Advance to new levels. About the time you get into a good rhythm, Tetris bumps you to a new level where blocks (and points) accumulate faster. Too, it seems like just when you've got the hang of your new life situation, something else challenges you. Know that this just means that you're ready for that challenge, with new opportunities for greater growth and insight.

10. Reset. Once all the Tetris bricks hit the top, the game starts over. If you find yourself "hitting the ceiling" in dealing with major life change, take time to reset. Stop, take a breather, engage in self-care. Do something nurturing and fun for yourself. This is not slacking! The inner transition that goes with change takes time and energy. For us to thrive during life changes, we need to go out of our way to be good to ourselves.

So let the blocks fall where they may, using these strategies to help you thrive during life changes, large and small. And if you forget how, go play a game of Tetris.

sue brundege, a certified coach, helps adult children of aging parents maintain a healthy life balance and achieve their personal goals. For practical information, visit sue brundege and subscribe to my free newsletter.

weekly home cleaning Highland Park ..

In The News:

Threat intelligence firm Synthient uncovers one of the largest password exposures ever, prompting immediate security recommendations.

Viral video shared by Elon Musk shows Tesla's Optimus humanoid robots performing tasks from cooking to construction, garnering over 58.5 million views on social media.

Chinese hackers used Anthropic's Claude AI to launch autonomous cyberattacks on 30 organizations worldwide, marking a major shift in cybersecurity threats.

Apple's new Sleep Score feature gives you a rating for your nightly rest quality. Learn how to set it up on your Apple Watch and iPhone today.

Essential phone settings to enable before losing your device, including Find My network, location services and security features for iPhone and Android.

The Fox News AI Newsletter gives readers the latest AI technology advancements, covering the challenges and opportunities AI presents.

Cybersecurity research shows weak passwords remain a major threat, with simple patterns and number sequences putting millions of accounts at risk.

New Android malware BankBot YNRK silences phones, steals banking data and drains crypto wallets automatically. Learn how this advanced threat works.

FDA approves first human trial for Paradromics' brain-computer interface that could restore speech for paralyzed patients through neural technology.

New phishing platform QRR targets Microsoft 365 users across 1,000 domains in 90 countries. Learn how to spot fake login pages and protect your accounts.

OpenTable now uses AI to track your dining habits and share insights with restaurants. Learn what data they collect and how to protect your privacy.

Google's discontinued Nest thermostats still secretly upload home data to company servers despite losing smart features, raising serious privacy concerns.

New Android malware NGate steals NFC payment codes in real-time, allowing criminals to withdraw cash from ATMs without your card. Learn protection tips.

DoorDash confirms data breach exposing customer names, emails, addresses after social engineering attack. Learn how to protect yourself from scams.

Concerned about Google's AI scanning your Gmail? Learn how to disable Gemini features that access your emails, Drive files and Chat messages for privacy.

Google warns Android users about dangerous fake VPN apps hiding malware that steals passwords, banking details and personal data from phones and tablets.

Apple's digital passport feature lets iPhone users breeze through TSA checkpoints this holiday season using Digital ID technology at 250+ airports.

A new phishing scam targets family photos with fake "Cloud Storage Full" alerts. Criminals steal credit card information through fake sites. Learn protection tips.

South Korean scientists create ultra-thin fabric muscles that turn clothes into robotic assistants, lifting 33 pounds while weighing under half an ounce.

Archer Aviation has acquired Hawthorne Airport for $126M to launch an LA air taxi network ahead of the 2028 Olympics, featuring AI-powered eVTOL operations and next-gen aviation tech.

Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.

Fake AI apps disguised as "ChatGPT" and "DALL·E" are flooding app stores with dangerous malware that steals data and monitors users without detection.

Fake buyers demand specific vehicle reports from unknown sites to steal credit card information from car sellers, but warning signs can help identify these scams before paying.

Android users can now manage apps across multiple devices more easily with Google Play Store's updated remote uninstall button in the latest update.

NASA's Perseverance rover discovers shiny metallic rock on Mars that could be a meteorite from an ancient asteroid, containing high levels of iron and nickel.

Managing Life Changes the Tetris Way (or How to Let the Blocks Fall with Skill and Grace)

Positive Attitude Tips