My wife and have a jigsaw puzzle constantly in the works. We bought a special table large enough for 1,000 piece puzzles, and each week we start a new one. We have about fifty of them and assemble them over and over. When we buy a new one, we get rid of an older one, but some are too enjoyable to give away.
Are jigsaw puzzles good for the brain? “Yes, jigsaw puzzles are generally considered good for your
brain. They provide a workout for both sides of the brain, improving
cognitive functions like memory, problem-solving, and visual-spatial reasoning. Additionally,
they can be a relaxing and stress-relieving activity, promoting mental
well-being.” This is according to Google AI, and is
repeated on many online sites.
Being retired and less active than in my
younger years, I am forced to spend more time in my house. I have many choices
of what I can do, such as enjoy my computer, watch good television, take naps,
have meals with my wife, sit on our porch, relax and recline, which is one of
my favorites. But the most rewarding one to me is working on a jigsaw puzzle.
Now some may call this cheating, but it’s
simple a way to help us get a repeat puzzle started more quickly. When the
puzzle is done I put the edge pieces in a sandwich bag so I don’t need to
separate them out each time. Then I glue the 4x4 corner pieces with white
school glue on the back, and I may glue other pieces that are either harder to
put together or not cut through at the factory. Why not make life more simple
and easy?
The most amazing evidence of the mental
value of jigsaw puzzling is when I’m searching and searching for a piece, and
suddenly it appears. That is evidence that my brain is working on the puzzle
and helping me assemble it. God created us with such a marvelous brain that it
can assist us in every activity – not just puzzling.
