Tetris can help clear up the clutter so you can enjoy a relaxing afternoon in your backyard.

The backyard is a welcome retreat from the stress of everyday life, and is a fun gathering spot to spend time with loved ones. Despite this and through constant use, our beloved backyards quickly become cluttered with kids’ toys, chairs, lawn equipment, and other things.

When it comes to cleaning up the mess, it’s easy to procrastinate while the situation gets worse. On the positive side, tidying up the backyard doesn't have to be a miserable experience. This is where Tetris comes in and turns a dull job into an exciting game!

When you think of your backyard, what’s the first shape that comes to mind? For many of us, that shape is either a square or a rectangle. Personally, I like to picture the rectangular Tetris Matrix flipped on its side.

Once you visualize your backyard as a Tetris Matrix, the clutter will transform into Tetriminos waiting to be rotated and placed neatly away. The items in our backyard vary depending on our day-to-day lives. Some of us will own a barbeque grill, while others have children’s toys. Each of these items counts as a Tetrimino, and despite first appearances, they can all be arranged on the backyard Matrix.

So, where do you start?

First, look at the items that you rarely need to move, like the aforementioned barbeque grill. Is it in a place that makes sense in relation to your Tetris Matrix, or would it be best to move it off to the side to create extra room?

Now that you’ve taken care of your stationary Tetriminos, it’s time to tackle the other miscellaneous objects scattered around. Group similar Tetriminos together so they’re easier to find. For example, gather your family’s bikes and put them in one area of the Tetris Matrix. For example, I prefer to line up my two bikes side-by-side. That way, if I take one out for a spin, I always know where to park it when I return.

Next, try to get your kids or friends involved in your game of backyard Tetris by asking them to help put things away. If your kids decide to help out, ask them to rearrange their toys. By creating a dedicated space for these Tetriminos, your kids will always know where to return their toys when they’re finished playing with them.

Like any game of Tetris, there will always be Tetriminos that are more difficult to place than others (like the S and Z-Tetriminos). In our backyard Matrix, these Tetriminos are items like gardening equipment used to keep our Matrix looking its best. If you don’t have a shed or garage for your lawnmower, you’ll need to use your Tetris skills to assign this Tetrimino a place that makes sense, not only out of the way, but safely out of reach to people who should not use it.

The same can be said of a snow blower or another piece of dangerous equipment. You’ll want to find new homes for these Tetriminos. Despite initial appearances, these items will fit together with enough rotating and organizing. This is the hardest part of your backyard Tetris game, and also the last. Once you’ve finished putting these items away, do one last check of your Tetris Matrix to ensure there are no misplaced Tetriminos.

After you’re satisfied, it’s time to enjoy the victory that comes from a task well done. Now you can invite people over for some fun outdoor activities, including Tetris Blitz on your phone while soaking up the sun! By using skills learned through playing Tetris, you may be able to effectively solve even the hardest problems in life.

I’ll return with new ways to use Tetris to solve some of life’s challenges in the weeks ahead. Now that your backyard is neat and clean, why not take a quick Tetris break while you cool off indoors?

• Tetris
• Life