Jigsaw puzzles provide a plethora of benefits that are often overlooked because they’re deemed as nothing more than a great jigsaw puzzle hobby or relaxing activity. And with such a wide variety of designs available, there’s definitely one out there for you. Fine Art America just released an expansive line-up of 500 and 1,000 piece jigsaw puzzles with varying patterns and images.
Why Having a Jigsaw Puzzle Hobby Is a Great Choice
Mental exercise
Puzzles are often seen as a great way to exercise your brain, but did you know that they can actually help develop both the left and right sides of your brain? The right side is responsible for creativity, emotions, and intuitive thinking while the left side controls logical reasoning, objectivity, and methodical planning. By doing puzzles regularly, you can keep your whole brain sharp!
Doing puzzles requires both sides of the brain to communicate and work together, which increases cognitive function. The occipital lobe is responsible for connecting colors and shapes and it becomes activated when we do puzzles. Exercising our mind regularly through activities like puzzle-solving helps prevent cognitive decline as we age.
Better Visual-Spatial Reasoning
By frequently solving puzzles, we improve our spatial reasoning because we must constantly place different pieces together to form a larger image.
Greater Attention to Detail
It is essential to focus on the details when completing a puzzle, especially if all the missing pieces are similar in color or shape. By looking for tiny disparities in hues or proportions, you will fill in the gaps more quickly, improving hand eye coordination. This attention to detail also applies outside of gaming; it can enhance our careers as well.
If we take care to be diligently accurate and specific with our tasks at work, then logically, the overall result of our efforts will increase standard stuff like reading comprehension requires close examination too–which passages contain critical data? Now that you have learned how to better process sensory information via puzzles (and other means), do not forget WHY this organizational skill contributes so greatly to tasks both big and small: it allows us to witness success!
Improve memory
Building neural connections enable faster generation of new connections, which in turn quickens mental speed and processes. For example, when researching a topic, you have to rapidly scan through several pieces of information to find the color or shape that you need. Exercising this part of the brain not only helps with retrieval during times like these but also improves short-term memory recall overall.
Increase your IQ
A recent study conducted by Dr. Susanne Jäggi from the University of Michigan found that dedicating 25 minutes a day to puzzle-solving can increase your IQ significantly.
Improve problem solving ability
When you solve a puzzle, you have to experiment with various methods until you find the one that works. This trial-and-error approach teaches you how to come up with theories, test hypotheses, and change your perspective when something isn’t working out. You can use these same skills in the workplace to become more innovative in your problem solving, more critical in your thinking, and better at adapting to new situations.
Increased productivity
If you’re finding it tough to stay concentrated, try taking a brief breather to do a puzzle and give your mind a reset. Many workplaces are now beginning to introduce puzzles and other games into their break areas. These can help employees take a few minutes away from work without feeling guilty, so they come back feeling refreshed and raring to go.
Better collaboration and teamwork
Not only do puzzles help improve problem-solving skills, but they also promote collaboration between coworkers. According to a study conducted by Yale University researchers, when workers are given the opportunity to puzzle together in the workplace, it helps them improve their relationships and strengthens their ability to cooperate and work as a team.
Better mood
The benefits of solving puzzles go beyond just increased brain production of dopamine. This neurotransmitter is responsible for regulating mood and optimism, which in turn affect learning, memory, concentration, and motivation. Dopamine is released every time we do a puzzle correctly, encouraging us to keep going and challenge ourselves further.
Relieve stress
Not only does assembling puzzles provide us with a sense of challenge, it also helps to relax us. Our brains transition from the “Beta” or awake state into the “Alpha” state when we are working on puzzles – similar to the state we enter when dreaming.
Final Thoughts On Why Having a Jigsaw Puzzle Hobby Is a Great Choice
Puzzles provide us with the perfect balance between physical and mental stimulation, improve our cognitive abilities, and can even boost productivity in the workplace. It’s no wonder why puzzles have been a beloved pastime for centuries – there are countless benefits to be reaped from dedicating some time every day to solving them. So what are you waiting for? Clear off the kitchen table, then start challenging yourself.