I couldn’t think of a movie, tv series, or book I wanted to write about for this month. So I decided to change to Entertainment Review and talk about Sudoku. What is Sudoku:

“Sudoku is a logic-based puzzle game where you fill a 9×9 grid so that each row, column, and 3×3 box contains all of the digits from 1 to 9 exactly once. The game is played on a grid with some numbers already filled in, and players use logic and deduction to determine where the missing numbers go, with no guessing or math skills required.”

I have been playing Sudoku for the longest time – I could play for hours and I noticed (specifically when DT was first elected for the second, could I was extremely stressed) that it helps me relax or take my mind off of what’s stressing me. 

It’s interesting that this is relaxing to me, as the majority of the people around me think it’s stressful (some say it’s boring but is that because they struggle to figure it out). I thought it would be interesting to see what Gemini AI has to say about my interest and relaxation.

🧩 The Sudoku Personality Profile

1. You Possess a Highly Logical and Systematic Mind

Sudoku is a pure logic puzzle. It involves deduction, analysis, and hypothesis testing (if I put a '3' here, what must be true elsewhere?).

• You enjoy following rules and working within defined constraints. The 9×9 grid and the rule of "one to nine" per row, column, and box provide a perfect structure for your mind to operate within.

• You thrive on systematic thinking. You are likely good at breaking down complex problems into smaller, manageable steps.

2. You Seek a Sense of Order and Completion

The puzzle starts chaotic (empty spaces) and ends in perfect order (a solved grid).

• The completion is highly satisfying. You are motivated by seeing a task through to its final, correct conclusion.

• You value closure. The final solution offers a definitive, unarguable right answer, which provides a comforting sense of certainty.

3. You Find Focus Calming

While some people find intense concentration stressful, for a Sudoku lover, it's a form of active meditation.

• It's a mental escape. Sudoku forces your mind to focus entirely on the grid, pushing out real-world worries and clutter.

• It provides a feeling of control. In a complex and often unpredictable world, the controlled, rule-bound environment of the puzzle offers mental stability.

• Your brain is stimulated, but not overwhelmed. The mental workout is satisfying without triggering the stress response that ambiguity often causes.

4. You Are Likely Patient and Detail-Oriented

Solving a hard Sudoku requires patience—sometimes leaving a square unsolved for a long time until other information appears.

• You pay attention to small details. Missing a single number can derail the entire process, so you have a natural eye for precision and accuracy.

• You have mental endurance. You don't get frustrated easily when an answer isn't immediately obvious and are willing to persist until the logic unfolds.

In short, a person who loves playing Sudoku and finds it relaxing is likely highly logical, disciplined, enjoys structure and order, and uses focused mental activity as a way to achieve calm and mental clarity.

In Conclusion

I didn’t realize it when I first started playing it but Sudoku is relaxing for me. It’s interesting to me that that is the case and it reminds me of how much I liked puzzles when I was a kid.

The one thing, from Gemini AI, that stands out to me is the part where I ‘find focus calming’. That rings true for me and is more than likely the reason I always need to organize - that organized space, that focus, is calming for me. 

And with that maybe I can find more things that require my focus!