7 Benefits Of Jigsaw Puzzles For All Ages

When it comes to jigsaw puzzles, most people associate them with a hobby, a pass-time activity, or a game for kids or senior adults. Playing jigsaw puzzles can be fun, especially for kids, as it involves putting colorful pieces together and feeling that sense of accomplishment once you see the entire picture. The mechanics of the game is pretty simple, which is to put it together. And the only way you can do that is to put your full attention and concentration into it.  

But aside from providing fun and enjoyment, playing jigsaw puzzles is also known to bring numerous health benefits. These benefits are something that you might not always get from playing with gadgets and other technologies. On top of that, these benefits are available for children, teens, and even adults.  

Here are seven benefits of jigsaw puzzles for all ages which might surprise you.  

1. It’s A Perfect Mental Exercise  

Any puzzle games, especially jigsaw puzzles, are a perfect way to mentally exercise your brain, both the left and the right sides. You seem your right brain is in charge of intuitive thinking and creativity, while your brain’s left side is for the objective, systematic, and logical side. Both sides are required to work together when completing a jigsaw puzzle. 

Overall, playing the jigsaw puzzle serves as your brain’s mental workout, leading to a healthy brain. And remember, the healthier your brain is, the less likely you’re at risk for memory loss, dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, and cognitive decline. 

2. It Boosts Your Memory 

When playing a jigsaw puzzle, you need to try memorizing that one puzzle piece you’re holding as you search for its pair through the other puzzle pieces. As you do this, you’re exercising a certain part of your brain responsible for storing short-term memory or information. 

Over time, as you keep on doing the same process, you’re increasing your mental speed and boosting your memory ability. So, if you’re one of those people who easily forgets what they had for dinner yesterday or forget where they last placed their hairbrush, playing jigsaw puzzles can help fix your short-term memory.  

3. It Enhances Your Visual-Spatial Reasoning 

Playing jigsaw puzzles needs deep analysis as you’ll need to look at every puzzle piece and figure out how it will fit the big picture. Doing this type of exercise more often can actually enhance your visual-spatial reasoning. Your spatial reasoning is also responsible for helping you drive a car, follow dance moves, read a map, and so on.  

4. It Improves Your Attention To Detail 

As mentioned, the only way you can solve a jigsaw puzzle is if you fully pay attention and concentrate on every puzzle piece. This puzzle game will need you to focus on one piece at a time as you figure out its tiny details in terms of the colors and shapes until you find out which one assembles correctly. 

This ability to capture little details can be very handy in life, especially with your job. When you’re always detailed and precise in every task you do, your work performance and output will surely improve as well.  

5. It Improves Your Problem-Solving Skills 

Doing a jigsaw puzzle is like trying to solve a math problem. In this case, you’ll need to try different approaches that’ll help you solve the puzzle. For instance, your first plan is to start solving from the bottom as it has the easiest part to assemble. Meanwhile, your first technique didn’t work for the second puzzle since it was more complicated.  

Ultimately, you’ll be doing a trial-and-error test when playing jigsaw puzzles. Honing these analytical and problem-solving skills will significantly benefit you in other aspects of life. The more you sharpen your problem-solving skills through jigsaw puzzles, the better you are at critical thinking.  

6. It Promotes Teamwork And Collaboration 

Another best thing about jigsaw puzzles is that you can play them in teams or groups. That’s why they’re perfect entertainment for family nights and workplace games. If you’re trying to solve one big jigsaw puzzle with hundreds of puzzle pieces, completing it might be a lot easier, quicker, and more fun if you do it with a team. 

This way, you can work together and brainstorm as you try to assemble this one big jigsaw puzzle. What’s more, playing jigsaw puzzles with your friends and family also promotes better and stronger relationships. 

7. It’s A Great Stress Reliever 

Jigsaw puzzles are an excellent stress reliever and meditation tool. As you see, while you focus on the jigsaw puzzle, you tend to temporarily forget about the stress, problems, and other issues in the real world. The process itself is already considered meditation, and you’re unconsciously relieving yourself from stress. So, if you want to enjoy a moment of quiet, peaceful, and solo break, puzzling may be a perfect way to step out for a bit from today’s hectic lifestyle. 

Takeaway 

Overall, doing jigsaw puzzles is more than just a game and pass-time entertainment. This is also healthy and beneficial for your mental and emotional health. Now that you’re well aware of the benefits of jigsaw puzzles, it’s time to choose your first puzzle and get busy.