The surprising health benefits of jigsaw puzzles…

Why is everyone talking about jigsaw puzzles right now?

Jigsaw puzzles have been growing in popularity since the pandemic, when many of us turned to comforting activities to entertain and distract us while we spent so much time indoors.

A return to doing puzzles reflects our search for more ‘mindful’ activities. As well as puzzles, there has been a boom in adult colouring books, paint-by-numbers and embroidery kits, showing people are looking for more playful ways to slow down and focus on hobbies that are calming and creative. Puzzles allow us solo satisfaction or you can share the experience and complete a puzzle with friends and family.

The great thing about all these activities is they don’t involve tech or looking at a screen - just your hands and your brain. They are incredibly grounding, letting your mind wander freely at the same time. Nor do they give us instant gratification, taking a puzzle takes time. For most of us, it is a welcome change of pace to our day and a way for us to step back from the sensory overload of modern life.

The Daily Telegraph’s Health Writer, Jack Rear, recently highlighted the numerous health benefits of jigsaws;

“Studies have shown that jigsaw puzzles create a sense of escapism, allowing us to forget the anxieties and stresses of everyday life while promoting feelings of calmness and serenity.

Research published in 2017 found that solving a jigsaw works both of the brain’s hemispheres and enhances participants’ ability to focus. The feeling of success when completing a jigsaw was also shown to encourage the production of dopamine, the hormone that regulates mood and boosts concentration, motivation, memory and motor control.

There were physical benefits too – completing a jigsaw can decrease blood pressure and reduce concentrations of the stress hormone cortisol.

So if you’re not already completing jigsaws in your free time, now might be an ideal time to start”.

We couldn’t agree more!