The Surprising Calm That Comes From Solving a Puzzle

 It might not always be something that you think about doing, but solving puzzles offers an effective, calming, and meditative experience.

In a world where the digital domain rules and many spend a lot of their time on social media, it’s a great way to detox from this side of the digital sphere and enjoy a multitude of puzzles in both physical and digital formats.

By requiring focused attention on a singular task, puzzles provide the brain with the opportunity to enter a state of flow where worries can recede, and that ultimately provides a sense of accomplishment and order.

In this guide, we’ll look at how puzzles create a calming, therapeutic, and at times, for some, a euphoric experience for all generations.

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Neurochemistry of calm

Every time you get a puzzle done or complete a word search, the brain releases dopamine, which is a neurotransmitter associated with pleasure, satisfaction and motivation.

Finding a corner piece or getting the right letter on Wordle releases those small amounts of ‘feel-good’ chemicals that turn the puzzle into a rewarding and addictive experience. It reinforces the feelings of success and is a good way of delivering a sense of accomplishment and closure, improving mood and reducing anxiety.

There are a lot of neurological benefits going on when it comes to solving a puzzle, whether you’re playing Sudoku online or putting pieces together. Those small victories are great for improving your mood and helping you feel like you’ve achieved something for that day in particular.

A meditation effect

Solving a problem is a provide a sort of active meditation which encourages mindfulness and being fully present in the moment.

Puzzles put you in that flow state, where concentration is required to match shapes, colors and patterns. It’s a great way of being able to quiet a racing mind, stopping anxious and looping thoughts in their tracks.

There’s also a physical benefit and relaxation that comes with doing puzzles of any kind, too. That quiet and repetitive, tactical action of sorting and fitting pieces helps to lower heart rate, encourage deeper and more relaxed breathing, as well as being able to reduce cortisol levels.

A therapeutic escape and control

Puzzles help to simplify the world into a manageable, 2D challenge. It’s a form of escape from the hustle and bustle of life that can often get busy and overwhelming. Within the chaos of an unpredictable world, doing a puzzle offers a real sense of control and stability.

With puzzles, you’ve got a healthy, non-verbal and low-pressure way of processing emotions, which can be especially beneficial for those who are struggling with ADHD, depression or stress. 

The necessary digital detachment

Puzzles are a great way to digitally detach from social media or watching television. While there are plenty of these puzzle games around, the brain is still being stimulated productively, even when it’s through a screen.

Having that detach from social media can be a real need for everyone in this day and age. As humans, we’re not supposed to be able to consume so much media at the scroll of our finger, which is why it’s good to take some time away from it now and then.

Puzzles are a time-out for your brain, allowing you to unplug, unwind and recharge your brain without it feeling like an unproductive use of your time.

Benefits beyond calm 

There are several benefits that come from providing just a calm environment for puzzle players to enjoy.

Puzzles provide a sense of calm and offer long-term mental health benefits, too. For example, puzzles engage both sides of the brain, helping strengthen neural connections and also improving short-term memory.

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Regular and challenging puzzle-solving is great to maintain cognitive function, as well as reduce the risk of dementia or Alzheimer’. These are two diseases that can take away life in the cruellest of ways.

How to incorporate puzzles into your day-to-day life

Incorporating puzzles into your day-to-day life is incredibly important, and if you’re looking to maximize the opportunity, then here are a few ways that you can do that successfully.

1. Create a puzzle ritual

Whether it’s a quick word search over breakfast or a game of solitaire during your morning commute, there are little puzzle rituals you can incorporate into your day that are quick and bite-sized.

Keep a puzzle app or book with you to do while having a coffee break or by your bedside as a way to wind down for the evening.

2. Utilize micro-puzzling

Micro-puzzling is a good way to take some time out of your day for those much-needed active breaks. Boost your productivity whilst also clearing your mind while you play for 5-10 minutes every so often.

Download puzzle apps and daily word games to play while you’re waiting in a queue or during your local commute. There are also puzzles you can keep at your desk, too a a brain teaser or something to do when you’re struggling with a difficult task.

3. Make it social

Who said that puzzles need to be something you do just on your own? A lot of puzzle enthusiasts have branched out into communities, setting up puzzle tables in common areas where family or coworkers can help out with a puzzle every so often.

Game nights are commonplace to in order to get together with friends or colleagues. From escape rooms to word puzzles, game nights can be a fun switch-up from just going to a random bar for the evening.

There are plenty of online communities available too, where you can share your own progress, play with others and compare scores.

4. Strategic integration

There’s also a lot of strategic integration to enjoy when it comes to solving a puzzle. Set goals for yourself, whether it’s completing a mammoth 1,000-piece puzzle within a week or doing a Wordle puzzle every day.

Try to mix it up so that you’re trying new puzzles instead of doing the same ones over and over again, leading to boredom.

There are plenty of benefits that come from solving puzzles, so it’s certainly something to pick up where you can.