5 Reasons Why Jigsaw Puzzles Can Improve Your Mental Health

Who said puzzles weren't a vibe? Puzzling has a myriad of health benefits, some of which may surprise you. In this weeks Wellness Wednesday blog, I have curated a round-up of different benefits that doing puzzles can provide us. You never know, after reading this, it may just be the push you need to rediscover your love of puzzling!

1. Calming Effects

Jigsaw puzzles offer a way to break up the monotony of the day. They are calming and inviting by providing a sense of escape. They are unique in that they engage both the logical part of the brain (putting pieces together logically) and the creative part (imagine the big picture of a finished work).

For older adults, puzzles can help improve short-term memory, enhance concentration, improve problem-solving skills, and relieve stress.

A study in 2020 showed that almost half of adults surveyed enjoy puzzles and puzzle games - 59% said it was relaxing, and 42% felt that a puzzle was giving their brain a boost.

2. They Offer a Sense of Control

Jigsaw puzzles are a great activity when the world feels out of control because the task is entirely within your power. While life has its unknown attributes and there is lack of control in it, puzzles offer the opposite. Puzzles provide us with an accomplishable goal. One that allows you to say, "I did that!". Every time you get a piece in the right place, your brain releases dopamine, a neurotransmitter that makes you feel happier and alert. With enough time and effort, you know how a puzzle will end and that gives you an experience of relief and accomplishment when it’s finished.

3. There’s A Clear Purpose

Puzzles provide a clear goal and sense of purpose, especially in a time where people feel aimless and unable to map out their future. There are very few clear answers in the chaos of life, particularly with this pandemic, but jigsaw puzzles are all about clear solutions, which can be very soothing. Puzzles take us from a place of chaos where pieces are thrown together randomly, and into a place of order. It’s assembling an item that already exists, rather than expanding mental energy to create something new.

4. It's A Throwback

Puzzles take us back to simpler times before the pandemic. They help us connect to the past and offer a sense of familiarity that is reassuring during life’s challenges. I know for me, it takes me back to my great-grandmother’s kitchen table in the 90’s, watching her create the borders of her puzzles. These memories satisfy me and make me appreciate her even more.

5. Create Opportunities For Connection

While puzzles can be satisfying to do on your own, they can also act as a social activity. Puzzles bring a sense of togetherness and working toward a shared goal. The cooperation of completing the puzzle provides its own unique sense of satisfaction. It fosters a sense of community. It’s always fun to see different personalities and strengths such as leadership qualities and problem solving.

Overall, puzzles have a positive impact on mood-boosting, memory improving, motor skills, and enhancing recollection. They give you a sense of happiness and accomplishment without having to leave your house. If you’re not doing puzzles, what are you doing? We have several puzzles to fit your lifestyle. Click here to see our brand-new collection of 48, 100 and 500 piece puzzles.