Are Puzzles Good for Your Brain? Benefits for Memory, Focus, and Stress
Why the humble puzzle is the slow living hobby you need in your life.
Family Friendly Activity for Your Next Trip
My family has been bringing a puzzle on vacation for the last 10 years. We usually stick with a 1,000 piece puzzle. My aunt and I are the big puzzlers, but everyone eventually drifts in and out to pick out an edge piece or just marvel at how many pieces we still have to go. It’s a conversation starter or a chance to connect.
Not looking forward to the next trip with the in laws? Having a puzzle is a great excuse to step away and have a minute to yourself too.
Are Puzzles Good for Brain Health?
Turns out there’s several reasons we love puzzle so much. Studies show that people who regularly puzzle experience delayed or reduced symptoms of Alzheimer’s and dementia. Puzzles engage multiple brain functions too, including perception, working memory, and reasoning.
They also offer some emotional benefits by increasing dopamine, a chemical that regulates our mood. A small study even showed puzzles can reduce cortisol, the stress hormone responsible for the 3AM wake up call.
They require our full focus in a way scrolling doesn’t.
A Low-Cost Hobby With High Mental ROI
I’m a public library girlie and lots of public libraries loan puzzles so it's a low cost (and low waste) hobby. Used bookstores frequently sell puzzles. I swap them with a friend who also loves a good puzzle.
They’re also scratch the itch when I need a little retail therapy. I love to gift the Cavallini & Co. puzzles. They look beautiful and have a puzzle for every theme. This Tarot Card Puzzle is my most recent purchase.
Puzzles are the low-tech hobby your brain has been craving.
Why Puzzles Help Reduce Stress and Anxiety
I’m all for an excuse to step away from my phone. I’ve been combining a puzzle with my evening tea routine for a 30 minute digital detox. Maybe you’re trying to implement a slow Saturday morning? Yes, please.
Start this weekend with your favorite latte, a bagel, and a new puzzle. You’ll feel better than if you jumped right into the scroll. Start off small with a 240 piece puzzle to build a little momentum before you graduate to a 500 or 1,000 piece puzzle.
Want more? Check out the books I’ve finished and would recommend when you need more than a puzzle to escape reality.
This post contains affiliate links, but all opinions, and puzzles, are my own.
7 Best Light Reads for Busy People Who Just Need a Break
Burned out and craving a good book? Here are 7 light reads for busy people that are impossible to put down.
Why Light Reads Are the Ultimate Slow Living Practice
You know that feeling when your brain is full and you just need to disappear into a book for a while? That's where I've been living lately.
We know research suggests less screen time is the key to increasing our health and happiness, but that’s easier said than done. I’m really focusing on sleep this season and taking a screen break before bed is the biggest part of my plan.
I try to read 15-30 minutes before I turn off the light each night. Although a few of these books are page turners that were HARD to put down.
My Favorite Light Reads for Busy People
Thursday Murder Club
A group of retirement community residents who meet weekly to solve cold cases find themselves tangled up in a very real, and very local, murder.
I couldn’t get into this series until I tried the audio book, and then I couldn’t stop. Narrators switch halfway through the series so be warned. But this book is charming, heartwarming and an easy escape.
The First Time I Saw Him
A woman gets an unexpected second chance at the man she's always loved, and has to decide how far she's willing to go to make it work — for herself and her daughter.
The sequel to the popular The Last Thing He said. This book tells us about how far a woman will go to get a chance at a happy ending with the man she loves, for herself and her daughter. There are some twists but overall very low key.
Wild Dark Shore
A family living in isolation on a remote island faces a dangerous situation that tests every one of them, including the youngest, a boy who might be the heart of the whole story.
This is the most thriller book on the list. The characters, especially a young boy are endearing. You’re rooting for this family to figure it out. A little dark at times but still not too intense.
Strangers in Time
Two unlikely strangers find each other in the chaos of WWII London and form an unlikely bond that helps them both survive — and eventually thrive.
I’m not usually a big fan of war book, but this story involves two unlikely friends who help each other survive and thrive, against all odds in war torn London.
The Correspondent
A retired attorney begins exchanging letters with a stranger and finds herself slowly reconstructing her sense of purpose, love, and connection in the process.
A sweet book that reminds me of the power of a thoughtful note and intentional communication. Follow a retired attorney’s journey as she navigates love and family struggles. Heartwarming and will make you want to send a post card to your girlfriends.
The Wedding People
A woman arrives at a resort with a plan to end her life — and accidentally ends up in the middle of a stranger's wedding weekend instead.
Despite opening with a plan to end her life, this main character is immediately likeable. You can’t help but cheer her on and read on to see how she pulls herself back from the edge. Seems like it should be a downer but its really quiet cheerful.
How to End a Love Story
Two people with a complicated shared history are forced back into each other's orbit, and the tension between what happened and what they want now makes for a very steamy, very emotional ride.
Who doesn’t love a beach read. This one is steamy, filled with drama, and emotional struggles. When you really need a distraction this is the book to reach for.
Take a Minute to Slow Down
Any one of these would make a perfect weekend companion, the kind of book you pick up Saturday morning and finish before dinner. If you're in a season where your brain needs a rest more than it needs a challenge, give yourself permission to just enjoy an easy read. I hope one of these gives you the break you’re craving.