Why Everyone Should Do Jigsaw Puzzles

 by Isabel F

A few weekends ago, my grandparents visited, and my mum brought out a jigsaw puzzle. I quickly got sucked in, subsequently spending a lengthy amount of time sorting pieces by colour and pattern, and then building the final image. 

Jigsaw puzzles were originally used as a tool for teaching geography. These first puzzles were wooden, and simply maps with the pieces cut along countries’ borders. 

Puzzles experienced something of a boom in 1930s America during the Great Depression. Firms were able to produce them using cheaper techniques and materials. These puzzles were accessibly priced, and allowed for recurring entertainment, which was attractive to many. 

The 2020 Covid-19 pandemic caused many people to rediscover home-based activities; the jigsaw puzzle being one of them. At this point, many people realised the mental and physical benefits of jigsaw puzzles, which further encouraged a return to this traditional form of entertainment. This quickly led to a trend akin to the adult-colouring book craze. 

The telephone box refurbished into a bookshop near my home is periodically overflowing with puzzles (literally- they are often stacked on the floor, leading to polite signs requesting no more puzzles are left). Walk into any of my town’s numerous charity shops, and the volunteers at the counter will enthusiastically relate that there is such high demand that a jigsaw will often be donated, only to be bought the same day.

But why are they so popular?

Puzzles tune your fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and concentration. They develop cognitive skills such as problem solving, spatial reasoning, critical thinking, and short-term memory. Jigsaws also reward those with an eye for detail (and occasionally, endless patience!). Many find them to be stress-relieving, and even therapeutic.

Whilst absorbed in the puzzle, one is still able to hold low-level conversations. The lack of direct eye contact means even hard-hitting questions feel less confrontational. Jigsaws encourage communication, even on the very basic level of ensuring that you are working as a team, and not messing up bits that the other has tried to solve. You are able to control just how much thinking headspace you are giving the jigsaw. This provides a healthier alternative to social media, that many (myself included) turn to for its mindless content that numbs the brain.

A psychologist called Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi conceived ‘flow’; a state of heightened focus and complete immersion in a challenging, but possible task, resulting in an optimal experience. Jigsaws offer a way of experiencing this ‘flow’, which some medical experts recommend just before bed-time for its relaxing nature. Other scientists celebrate such flow-inducing activities for a whole host of benefits, from helping people to cope with their anxiety, to reducing the risk of dementia.

So, whether you are attracted to puzzles for the health benefits, the creative outlet they offer, the opportunity to unwind away from a screen, or for the pure satisfaction that comes with completing one, I highly recommend you give one a go!