Iplay Solitaire for the good of the world. It’s my way of saving the universe. I’m in it. I’m winning. I see a clear move and I make it. Phew, I got out of that tight situation and I have room to breathe again. Alright, Alright, Alright, the cards are all ascending to their home suits, I’ve done it! I’ve finished the game and made the world safe for procrastinating again.

You’re welcome.

Why do we play so much Solitaire? It’s on every computer when you buy it – but so is Calculator and know one uses that, or at least not for very long. Seriously, what is addictive about Solitaire?

I know, it’s not just me. (And to be fair, not me all the time.) It seems to have just the right amount of distraction, with a baked in mini-challenge, and a visual reward when you win, as the cards ascend and dance all around the screen.

Solitaire is decision-porn.

When you’re faced with decisions, even dumb ones, that you shy from making…

  • How do I answer that email?
  • Am I available at 2pm, Tuesday?
  • What should I do first?
  • Which of these strategies will work?
  • How should I start my novel/blog/screenplay/song?
  • How should I deal with this emotion I’m feeling?

Solitaire is there for you. Quick before you sink like a stone and notice how much time you spend in indecision – about everything – there’s solitaire. Go, play, make some decisions and feel good about yourself again. It’s harmless. Or is it? Like actual porn, it’s harmless, until it isn’t. (Notable difference: no playing cards were exploited to bring you Solitaire. On the flip side, none are entrepreneurs making money hand over fist exploiting your needs, either. They’re just digital playing cards, people.)

Is it harmless? Yes. Absolutely. A game of Solitaire can return you to a senses of self-efficacy when something hard has challenged your self-esteem. It can give you a reward for hard work completed. It can let you seek a distraction without having to leave your desk. On the other hand, it can get all your juice, so you’re used up when it’s time to make real decisions, and engage with your real life. It can distract you from that nasty little decision, and you never make it. Are you available at 2pm, Tuesday? Or will you fail to set up that appointment, miss that opportunity. For a great decision-making tool, read more here.

Solitaire is slippage.

Slippage is a term they use in retail to mean things lost in the course of doing business, like small thefts and breakage, time wasted by employees, etc. It is loss that isn’t documented in real time, but when the balance sheets are done, there’s the loss, slippage. Slippage, can also refer to a customer’s loss and the retailer’s gain – like when you pay $10 for a gift card, and use it only for $9.98. The retailer keeps that 2-cents, and it adds up.

It adds up. Loss and gain. Solitaire can give you both. Satisfaction and longing. All by yourself. Alone. You have to face decision-making, and the feeling of inadequacy, and slippage in your life from undocumented time loss, and more. If Solitaire is helping you do that, play on. And we, the people of the world, thank you. If it is more like a gaping hole on your balance sheet – where somehow, somewhere you’re losing time and money – maybe ease up a bit. Limit it to a reward, an earned break. 2 games at a time.

You can do it, you just have to decide to. (Ooo, move that four onto the five! You got this!)