The benefits of puzzle play for adults

03/14/2023 | By Laura Frechilla

 
The puzzle for adults is making a comeback from confinement, and rightly so! Until recently, it was associated with an outdated and boring hobby. And yet, this puzzle game isn't just for kids! Relaxing and stimulating at the same time, it has many positive effects on the brain and mind.. So it's high time we did this activity justice and reveal all the benefits of jigsaw puzzles. !

A challenging strategy game 

A complex task for your brain 

By practicing this activity, 8 visual and spatial functions are mobilized at once! That's what researcher Patrick Fissler found in a 2018 study.. In fact, to reconstitute the image of the model, you need to put clues together. Among other things, you call on perception, flexibility, memory, mental rotation and reasoning.

🔎 First you become a detective, using your spatial structuring skills. You need to spot the shapes and colors of the rooms, their orientation and their arrangement in relation to each other. Next, you need to deploy your strategic talents by following a certain methodology: sorting the pieces, positioning the corners and edges, then completing the interior with key elements.

 
Much more than a hobby, it's a problem-solving exercise. It requires processing several pieces of information at the same time to reconstruct a whole. In fact, the word "puzzle" comes from the English word for enigma. And the more difficult the model, the greater the mental challenge!

The benefits of jigsaw puzzles for all ages

The benefits of jigsaw puzzles from an early age have long been recognized. These assembly games encourage children to work cognitively, developing their powers of concentration, observation and reflection. The effort required helps develop patience and perseverance, as well as resistance to frustration. 

For seniors, this manipulative activity helps improve dexterity. You need to be precise in your movements to grasp the pieces, turn them along several axes and fit them together. As well as maintaining finger flexibility, puzzles can also help preserve memory and slow brain decline. An ideal gift for Grandma's and Grandpa's Day!

And what are the benefits for young adults, you might ask? Well, it's an excellent way of forging new neuronal connections. By stimulating your cognition, this game of patience is a protective factor against brain ageing. And it's never too early to start preventing degeneration!

A wellness break with a puzzle for adults 

In a world that constantly over-stimulates us, it's not easy to find leisure time away from screens. Patience games offer the experience of concentrating on the present moment while building self-confidence.

A puzzle as a meditative activity 

Productivity, speed, performance, responsibilities... To reduce the stress linked to our frenetic pace, we're advised to take a break and put our feet up. Disconnect to reconnect with yourself? Yes, certainly, but how? 

Mindfulness meditation to relieve tension is all the rage. But how can you really let go? Who hasn't been plagued by intrusive, obsessive thoughts during practice, such as "Why did I say that at that party? I look ridiculous...", or even existential questions such as "What if I changed jobs and went off on foot to Compostela on my own?

Puzzle playing is a meditative activity that focuses your attention on a single task. By putting the pieces together, you can achieve that state of mental and physical relaxation that drives away negative or anxious thoughts. Time is suspended, and you're finally in the here and now! 

👉 Also read: 3 express techniques for quick relaxation 

A challenge that boosts self-confidence 

La réalisation d’un puzzle est une source régulière de petites satisfactions. Quand le tri des pièces est terminé par exemple, ou lorsqu’on a fini d’assembler les bords. Cette accumulation de petits succès renforce votre sentiment de contrôle et booste l’estime de soi. Et alors que la sensation de plaisir augmente au fil de la résolution, elle est aussi ponctuée de moments d’euphorie intense ! Hello, état de flow !

Quelle exaltation lorsqu’on trouve une pièce que l’on pensait manquante, après avoir été persuadé·e que le fabricant l’avait oubliée ou que le chien l’avait mangée ! Et cette fierté que l’on ressent au placement de la dernière pièce ! On admire le résultat final comme une œuvre d’art (sauf si vous avez choisi une image de chaton avec un nœud papillon au lieu de La neige qui tombe, par exemple…) et on refuse de le remettre tout de suite dans sa boîte !

This overwhelming feeling of fulfillment is biological. Solving a puzzle stimulates the region of the brain involved in the reward system. You enter the virtuous circle of motivation. The challenge is brilliantly met, your self-confidence grows and you're more likely to dare to surpass yourself.

Alors, à quand le 10 000 pièces pour profiter pleinement des bienfaits du puzzle ? Oui, nous nous en doutons, vous manquez certainement de place. En attendant, vous pouvez toujours commencer par un puzzle de 500 pièces ou 1000 pièces à choisir dans notre boutique !