Given our culture’s fixation with cell phone applications and video games, it may come as a surprise that jigsaw puzzles are getting more popular. Jigsaw puzzles, like coloring books, vinyl albums, and old-fashioned board games, provide an opportunity to disconnect from the digital world. It might be difficult for a person to pull away from computers, smartphones, and even television, but it is critical to do so for our mental and even physical health.Â
A jigsaw puzzle takes up your entire attention and focus, and that is when the magic happens. If you’re seeking family games that are healthy for both your mental and physical health, here are eight advantages of tackling jigsaw puzzles.
Table of Contents
Work on both the left and right sides of your brain
The left half of the brain employs logic and logical thinking, whereas the right side employs creativity and intuition. According to neurotransmitter studies, creating jigsaw puzzles engages both sides of the brain. Whether you’re working on simple puzzles, moderately difficult puzzles, or 1000 piece jigsaw puzzles, your brain is receiving a workout that improves problem-solving skills and concentration.
Improvement of Short Term Memory
Jigsaw puzzles can help you improve your short-term memory if you have difficulties remembering recent events, such as what you ate for breakfast yesterday. Doing puzzles increases brain-cell connections and improves mental performance. By including jigsaw puzzles in your family games, you will assist both children and adults in enhancing their memory, which will improve their performance at school and work.
Work on Visual-Spatial Reasoning
Assembling a jigsaw puzzle involves examining individual pieces and imagining how they will fit together to form the overall image. Making puzzles for a regular part of your life can assist adults and children to practice visual-spatial thinking, which we utilize when we read a map, operate a car, load boxes, and mimic dance routines, among many other everyday tasks.
Relieve Stress
According to research, puzzles engage the brain while also helping us to rest our brains. This enables us to enter a meditative state. This is a type of meditation in which you focus your concentration on a single puzzle piece for minutes at a time while closing your mind to other ideas. You’ll feel relieved of ordinary tension, and the resulting feeling of calm will assist in decreasing your heart rate and blood pressure.
Spend Time With Your Family or Friends
Jigsaw puzzles are fun family activities that everyone may participate in. If you start a puzzle and keep it on a table in a common area of your home, you may encourage adults and children to work on it whenever they have free time. If you have adolescent children, you may utilize jigsaw puzzles to engage them in discussion while working on one.
Increased ProductivityÂ
It is easier to focus when you are happier and less anxious. When your concentration improves, so does your production. If you’re having difficulty focusing on your academics or job, consider taking a little pause to tackle a puzzle to reset your brain. Many offices are starting to incorporate puzzles and other such activities into their waiting spaces. These games allow employees to take a break from work for a few minutes before returning rejuvenated and ready to resume their tasks.
Delaying dementia and Alzheimer’s diseaseÂ
Keeping your brain busy can help to prevent the onset of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease symptoms. Keeping the mind engaged through these problem-solving activities has been found to lessen the amount of brain cell damage that happens in Alzheimer’s patients. It also promotes the formation of new nerve cells and enhances their connections.
Researchers have also discovered a link between the number of years spent solving puzzles and the likelihood of developing Alzheimer’s. So, the sooner you begin to include puzzles into your daily routine, the better. It is never too late to begin safeguarding your brain.
Final Thoughts
Jigsaw puzzles are not only a fun way to spend your time, but they also offer numerous educational and health benefits, such as developing our fine motor skills and providing a respite from electronics. They’re also intergenerational, so individuals of all ages may enjoy them. Jigsaw puzzles may benefit everyone, whether you finish them alone or as a family.