Whether it’s jigsaws, crosswords or the like, puzzles aren’t just for young kids or older adults. They are a great activity for all ages and bring with them many benefits. Below are just some of the key benefits.

6 benefits of puzzles:

1. Time flies by

Puzzles can be very addictive. So, if you’ve got free time on your hands, get stuck into a jigsaw and before you know it three hours will have passed by.

2. They keep the brain active

Doing puzzles of any variety is a great way to challenge your mind. Figuring out shapes, sizes and what piece goes where or racking your brain to remember the answer to a crossword question all keep your mind ticking over and improve your problem-solving skills.

3. You learn

Puzzles are a great way to learn something new. Word searches for example can help you with spellings or keywords related to a specific topic. When completing crosswords, answers may be revealed that you never knew before.

4. They’re relaxing

Doing a puzzle is a great way to have some ‘me’ time. Switch off and zone out from your surroundings; freeing yourself from any other distractions allows you to focus solely on the task in hand.

5. A sense of achievement

There really is no better feeling than putting that last piece of the jigsaw in place, standing back and admiring your accomplishment.

6. Social benefits

Puzzles can be a great way to interact with others. You can work together to tackle them and problem solve. Or if you want a bit of friendly competition, challenge your friends to a puzzle and see who can complete it first or get the most answers correct.

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Types of puzzles

When we’re talking about the benefits of puzzles, we’re not just talking about jigsaws. Yes, jigsaws are a popular choice, but they’re not the only form; puzzles come in all shapes and sizes. So, check out the list below and there’s bound to be one that’s right for you.

• Jigsaws
• Crosswords
• Wordsearches
• Riddles
• Anagrams
• Brainteasers
• Sudoku
• Mechanical (think Rubik’s Cube)
• Mazes

The above are just some of the types available and if you’d like to give some of them a go, check out our very own Host puzzles.

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