It’s 3 p.m. and you’ve hit a roadblock at work. The vigor with which you’ve crossed things off your to-do list just a few hours earlier has all but disappeared and you’re counting the seconds until quitting time. Hardly, a moment of peak productivity. Fort Mason Games CEO Kate Gorman knows the perils of hitting the productivity plateau and has a solution — play mobile games. 

Yes, it’s counterintuitive, but current research suggests that taking short breaks from work throughout the day to play a few quick mobile games can actually boost productivity, not reduce it. 

Gorman, founder of Fort Mason Games, a mobile gaming company that specializes in creating social mobile games that that meet the needs of female players, says that she encourages her employees to play games at work. “This helps the team unwind and recharge.  It’s a good thing to have breaks during the day.  Ultimately, it leads to more creativity and productivity at work.”

Here are a few of the benefits she’s found from playing mobile games at work. 

1. IT BOOSTS PROBLEM-SOLVING SKILLS

Many mobile games are essentially brain-training tools that allow players to work through problems and improve their ability to think critically. 

2. IT ALLOWS FOR MOMENTS TO RECHARGE

It’s no surprise that taking a few moments to think about something other than work — or nothing at all for that matter — can allow your brain to recharge, refocus, and find nonlinear approaches to find work solutions.

3. IT INCREASES CREATIVE OUTPUT

Much like the recharging and brain-training benefits improve problem-solving, mobile games provide new stimuli that can get creative juices flowing, and gives your non-conscious brain a turn at the wheel.

4. IT IMPROVES MORALE AND TEAM-BUILDING

Encouraging productive breaks throughout the day makes the workday more enjoyable. Having them work together on a fun game, can also increase their ability to work as a team on important projects.

5. IT REDUCES STRESS

Perhaps the best reason gaming can make employees more productive is that it gives employees a healthy outlet to relieve stress. No more chain-smoking in the parking lot, this is a much better way to relax and focus.

If you would like to learn more about how Fort Mason Games’ roster of fun, social, mobile games can help make every employee more productive, I’d be happy to set up an interview with CEO Kate Gorman. She was recently named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 list in Gaming and is a leading voice in the push to make gaming more inclusive for women.