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I rarely get out of bed in the morning until The New York Times declares me “Amazing” as I strive to complete its Spelling Bee. Occasionally I rise as a “Genius," though that’s typically achieved later in the day. Either way, post-retirement, I’m hooked on this morning puzzle that accesses, my word, acumen.
Not too long ago, in my crazed career days, I’d hear friends mentioning Words with Friends, Candy Crush, Solitaire or other online games for the brain. Beyond disinterest, I thought these pursuits a silly waste of time. Occasionally I’d tackle crossword puzzles, but since my knowledge of arcane poetry, popes and Pulitzer Prize winners are limited, it was usually an exercise in frustration.
Enter the pandemic and the many added hours at home. As we all learned, boredom can be an unwitting motivator. Suddenly that long-overlooked 1000-piece jigsaw puzzle buried in the closet seemed a worthy effort. It took me forever just to get the border pieces in place. But before long I found myself looking forward to my puzzling evening hours. I couldn’t believe how satisfying it was to maneuver those fabulous fits. When completed, I thought my puzzle was "The Best Ever" scene of the Italian village, Cinque Terre.
Many challenging jigsaws followed. I was hooked — hooked on the focus required, the escapism provided and the soothing rhythm of piecing parts together. In retrospect, I’m calling these jigsaws perfect gateway puzzles. You could say I was primed for a bigger addiction.
Then, like so many of you, I met The New York Times game Wordle. Wow, what an instant charm! What impossible simplicity! Who can resist the quick, daily dose rush of this instantaneous brain teaser? The high of a three-guess win. The sting of a six-tries loss. Predictably, I’ve added several new puzzles to my daily routine.
So here’s my confession. I’ve changed my mind completely. Puzzling isn’t silly. It’s serious! And here’s why.
Puzzles may provide some with a sense of control and competence. This is especially true during periods of stress and chaos. When the future feels troubling, puzzles may provide a respite of calm and a feeling of command. Whatever challenges we are facing — be they terrible or trivial — puzzles provide an “I’ve got this” moment. We anticipate the pleasure of completing the puzzle, the sense of satisfaction and the accompanying burst of dopamine in our brains (more on this later).
It’s no wonder I now enjoy a morning puzzle — it’s a start-of-day confidence boost. Of course, practice matters. Puzzling, like most efforts, is a skill. You get better at it. Need more convincing?
According to some studies, the medical benefits are many and varied. The best part? There are no dangerous side effects!
— Improved concentration. So much of our time is spent multi-tasking in a distracted state. We check our phones dozens of times a day. We flip channels and take the clickbait. In contrast, puzzles require concentration. These moments are spent with full attention. Reasoning and spatial skills, stimulating both right (creative and intuitive) and left (logical and analytical) brain hemispheres, are called into play. Puzzling literally exercises your brain. No sweat is required.
— Discipline. Regularly playing brain games may, for some, provide a sense of order and control. Puzzles require patience, focus and the ability to address challenges in a logical sequence. This is a worthy exercise for impatient types like myself.
— Problem-solving. Puzzles require critical thinking and strategizing. Whether you’re facing personal challenges or professional situations, we all can benefit from sharper concentration.
— Slow memory loss. Although research isn't conclusive, keeping more parts of the brain active for longer may be connected to slowing the rate of memory loss and having a positive impact on short-term memory and brain cell connectivity. When you work on a puzzle, you exercise your memory by recalling placement and patterns. We all fear losing brain power. Brain games may be an ideal battlefront.
— Social connections. Puzzles aren’t necessarily a solo endeavor. Many online games are designed for sharing. Jigsaws, in particular, are terrific for collaborating with family and friends.
— Dopamine. Working and completing a puzzle produces dopamine, a chemical that increases concentration, optimism, confidence and recollection. This exercise is truly an organic mood booster. Regular puzzle-solving can contribute to overall happiness and well-being.
Here are a few examples of games you may want to try:
· Braincurls.com
· Lumosity.com
· Mentalup.co/adults
· AARP.org/games
On the one hand, being a known organized, observant and detail-oriented person may make you good at puzzles. Or, you may find that puzzles reveal personality strengths you didn’t even know you possessed.
If you are truly curious about your puzzle personality, check out the online quiz here.
My quiz results suggest I hate complicated rules, puzzles without a clear answer and spoilers. All true! Why not just dive in, too? Don’t overlook traditional jigsaw puzzles. After all, isn’t all of life a puzzle? And we all have a desire to make life’s many complex pieces fit neatly together.
What online games do YOU play? Let us know in the comments below.
Kiersten Essenpreis
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