The Problem with Sudoku

Admitting that I have a problem, I’ve been told, is the first step toward a solution. OK, well, I’ve a problem . . . with Sudoku.
Whenever I don’t know what to do with myself, I play Sudoku. Whenever there is something I don’t really want to do, yup, I play Sudoku. If I want to be honest, playing this numbers game is a method of occupying my mind to make me think I’m doing something.
I’ve managed, on occasion, to convince myself that I’m exercising my brain cells. I can get myself all excited around competing with myself too. The goal used to be to complete one. That’s not enough any more. Now, it’s about how fast I can get it done correctly.
I used to have a firm handle on this pastime. I only played those games that arrived once a week in the sales papers. If I couldn’t solve it the first time around, I had blank forms on which I could reconstruct the primary clues and circle them. Then I was limited to one puzzle a week unless an AARP or VIA magazine crossed the threshold. I was happy and content with this process. Sudoku was a treat.
Then some helpful soul presented me with a desk calendar so I could have one a day. Then two someones gifted me with books of these puzzles. The final breakdown of my will-power and control of this time-guzzling activity was caused by the gift of a hand-held, battery-operated Sudoku game. I was sunk. I now had the tools to play everyday and every hour of every day.
I suppose it wouldn’t be so bad if I could play with other people, then I could consider this a social activity. Instead I sit in the doctor’s office or stand in lines and play these games instead of participating in the world around me. They are interfering with my relationships and my ability to get things done. I remind myself of those who commute to work or jog with I-pods in their ears or kids playing video games.
I mean it took every ounce of my resolve to put down one of the game books today and write this piece. I’m definitely out of balance here.
What am I going to do?
Do I have to treat my gluttonous need of Sudoku as if I was overweight with this number game and put myself on a diet? Do I have to hide all the books and calendar pages on myself? Or make corresponding points for each level of game and limit the number I can play in a day? Is there such a thing as a Sudoku watcher?
Maybe I need to treat it like a tobacco addiction and provide other distractions for myself so I can become Sudoku-free? Deep breathing through the cravings for playing the game? Or force myself to do one Sudoku game after the other, until I get sick of them?
Do I become my own mother and only allow myself to play one game when I’ve accomplished one blog or edited one chapter or finished the washing?
Hmmm, that’s not a bad idea.