As the pandemic soared throughout the world, many people picked up new hobbies or revisited old past-times that had long been sidelined due to busy lifestyles and digital distractions. A hobby that saw a massive revival was jigsaw puzzling. People dusted off old jigsaw puzzles and stores rapidly ran out of stock. In May 2020, soon after the pandemic started, I wanted to buy my Melbourne-based sister some puzzles for her birthday from local retailers but it was virtually impossible! I finally managed to order 3 from overseas suppliers via Amazon Australia, but guess what? One of the puzzles only arrived two months later, another arrived four months later (yes 4!), and the third puzzle didn’t arrive at all! The world had suddenly become puzzle-crazed!
But besides being a relatively cheap way to pass time, did you know that puzzling has many health benefits? Here are 10 reasons why I think you should keep on puzzling until a ripe old age:
- They give us a sense of control.
During a crisis like the COVID-19 pandemic, many of us felt a lack of control. Questions like “When will the lockdown end?”, “When can I see my family and friends again?”, “When will life go back to normal?” were probably running through your mind. While these were all open questions no one knew the answers to, puzzles offered the opposite. With the time and effort put into puzzles, we can control the outcome. We know what to expect when we are done, and it provides a sense of relief and accomplishment.
You can do it solo, or do it with others. You can choose to spend just a few minutes on it, the whole day, or whenever you’re in the mood. The task is entirely within your power.
With conventional puzzles, you also know what to expect when you’re done. There is no mystery and no need to expense your mental energy to create something from scratch. You can also choose for yourself how easy or difficult you want it to be with the number of pieces, the style of artwork or image you like, and even the die-cut. There are so many puzzle options out there – anyone can find a puzzle that speaks to them.
2. They give us a clear purpose and a sense of accomplishment.
Human beings perform best when we are faced with tasks we are competent at but are challenging enough for us to feel accomplished when we complete them. Compared to jigsaw puzzling, certain hobbies, like sewing, painting, or baking, tend to have a higher learning curve. While this can be a good motivator for some people, for others, it can be a deterrent.
Anyone and everyone – young or old – can do a jigsaw puzzle without having to pick up any special skills first. They also provide us with a clear goal and sense of purpose in times when we’re unable to map out future plans. Doing a puzzle feels like working towards something bigger than just your daily chore list.
If you’re an avid puzzler, you’d probably agree that finishing a puzzle is extremely satisfying. Our conscious minds are goal-striving. Puzzles provide a challenge that gives this goal-seeking behaviour an outlet. With each piece that fits, the puzzler gets a little hit of dopamine, which soothes the brain, and this reward then climaxes with the puzzle’s completion. It also helps explain why some people feel like they can’t stop working on a puzzle until it’s finished.
3. They provide a meditative experience.
Many people associate doing a puzzle with meditation. Our brains get immersed into the task, and time just melts away. Three hours on a puzzle can feel like 5 minutes.
Focusing on individual puzzle pieces and one overall image forces people to be present and relax. It’s also a tactile task without external stimulation like screens. They take a certain level of concentration that creates mindful moments. These moments take us outside of ourselves and our worries. In this meditative state, your brain may block out toxic thoughts and even process other ideas and feelings that have been bothering you. These de-stressing effects are powerful.
When immersed in a great jigsaw puzzle your heart rate goes down and a sense of peacefulness overtakes you, lowering blood pressure and anxiety. Puzzling immerses you into a problem-solving situation that is relaxing and soothing, and it always feels great to place a piece in a puzzle.
While deep into puzzling, I’ve often found myself recalling old memories or coming up with solutions to problems that have been bothering me.
4. They improve our short term memory.
Puzzlers need to remember certain shapes and colours and where they fit into a puzzle. They need to visualise the finished puzzle to determine how the pieces slot together. As a regular puzzler, I find that I am able to pick up a piece and know exactly where it goes – because part of the puzzle has been stored in my short term memory. The more frequently you do activities such as jigsaw puzzling, the better you get at retaining information.
So if you struggle to remember where you left your keys or what you ate for lunch yesterday, puzzling can help with that. It reinforces connections between brain cells, improves mental speed, and is an effective way to improve short-term memory.
5. They boost our attention to detail and problem solving skills.
Jigsaw puzzle pieces can look remarkably similar in colour (think blue skies and single colour puzzles!) or in cut. Paying attention to the details and subtle differences helps us solve the puzzle. The ability to capture small details can help us in all aspects of our lives. This is particularly beneficial at work. When we are more detailed and precise, the quality of our work improves.
Moreover, to solve a puzzle you take different approaches to try and solve a problem, like a trial and error test. You also learn the value of formulating theories, testing hypotheses, and changing your perspectives when something doesn’t go as planned.
These skills can be transferred to work, making you more innovative in problem solving, a better critical thinker and improve your adaptive skills. What a wonderful hobby to improve the quality of your work!
6. They bring people together and improve collaboration.
While it’s true that a lot of people love puzzling as a solo activity, it’s also a great way to connect with family and friends. Studies have shown that socialising and creating bonds with others is vital to our health.
Starting a jigsaw puzzle and keeping it on a table in your living room or kitchen is an invitation for the whole family to participate. It’s a tactic that parents of teens can use for starting a conversation while working toward a shared goal. It’s also a wonderful way to connect with friends. I have had the deepest conversations with friends over jigsaw puzzles. Some of these moments occurred almost 20 years ago but I still remember them fondly.
Even completing a puzzle with work colleagues is a great way to improve teamwork. You can build collaboration through discussion and interaction.
7. They help us to recharge our batteries.
While puzzles can bring people together, they are also perfect for that well-needed alone time. Introverts love jigsaw puzzles because they are great for mental health and a perfect way to recharge.
It is a hobby you can engage in independently. And it’s your personal choice if you want to do it quietly, with a cup of tea (or glass of wine!), while listening to music or your favourite podcast. It is the perfect solo break from the bustle and unrelenting stimulus of today’s digital distractions.
8. They can decrease your stress levels.
Sometimes I hear non-puzzlers complain that they find the activity stressful or that they don’t have the patience for it. Contrary to that, it is actually an activity that helps us relax. Our brains go from “Beta” or awake, to a state of “Alpha” when you are assembling puzzles. The Alpha state is similar to the state we are in when we are dreaming.
This shift in consciousness comes with many benefits, including:
- Ability to make deeper connections
- Improve our mood
- Increase our self-confidence
- Relieves stress
- Even lower your blood pressure and heart rate
So the next time you hear family members or friends complain that puzzling isn’t for them, why not pull out a fun puzzle to do together?
9. They help keep our minds sharp as we age.
It sounds like a clickbait-y claim, but this study from Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience explains that engaging your brain with activities like jigsaw puzzles can reduce the risk of developing dementia and Alzheimer’s.
Puzzles are great problem-solving activities which support the growth of new nerve cells and can reduce the amount of brain cell damage that occurs in Alzheimer’s patients. It also supports the growth of new nerve cells and strengthens the connections between them.
Researchers have also found a relationship between the number of years someone has been solving puzzles and the probability that they will develop Alzheimer’s. Next time you’re worried you’re spending too much time puzzling, think of the humble jigsaw puzzle’s preventative power!
10. They create time away from screens
We all know that too much time in front of our screens is detrimental to our health. Screen time affects your weight, sleeping patterns, eye and brain health, and even cognitive development. So the less time staring at your screens – whether it’s the TV, your phone, or whatever you’re reading this blog on – the better. Jigsaw puzzles aren’t just a nice alternative to Instagram and Netflix – they’re actually giving you time to wind down!
So, on your next lazy Sunday (or better yet – crazed Monday), unplug or shut your laptop down, put your phone on “Do Not Disturb,” and get swept away by a puzzle. Encourage your kids to do the same.
So, don’t ever worry about spending too much time puzzling again! It’s officially good for your mind, body and soul. Happy Puzzling!
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