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Wooden Puzzles for Adults: What Makes Them So Great?

18 May

The era of social distancing is upon us. And many of us are geared up for prolonged periods indoors, with our favourite boredom killers. Usually this constitutes a comforting Netflix binge and a gallon of ice cream, or at best a book or a jog. Either way, you are going to need some activities to take your mind off things at eat up a little of the clock. At SiamMandalay we are big on getting people off their phones and away from their TVs. Fending off the boredom with wholesome family table games and engaging puzzles. But what makes puzzles such a great activity during lockdown? 

1. Stress Reducer

According to Marianna Strongin, Ph.D, a New York psychologist, solving puzzles is not just a fun activity but a much-needed stress reducer. “Right now, people feel like they can’t solve their problems, like they’re stuck,” Strongin says. “Puzzles create an opportunity to solve something, which can calm that anxiety.” Immersive and hands-on activities (like puzzles) provide much needed relief and help release the strain from whatever is weighing on you. People have so little control of their own lives at the moment. It's important to have something in their lives that they can find a solution and find a positive outlet for pent up energy.  

2. Enhanced Memory

In these challenging times, it's very normal to feel your mind is a blur. You can find yourself forgetting things, being muddle and feeling disorganised. This is all very normal, your daily routine is out of sync and things you used to may require some thought. Playing with puzzles helps clear brain fog and improve your memory. By exercising the existing connections that help boost your memory and speed up your thought.  

3. Enhanced Problem Solving

Brain teasers and puzzles give participants the chance to work through issues with differing approaches. Every thought, even ones that are not the the solution to the problem with enhance our creative and out the box thinking. Continuously working through problems with new and adapting perspective is a learnable skill that can be embraced in all aspects of life.  

4. Big Picture Thinking

Solving puzzles requires a diverse range of skills. Educators have realised that there is a more profound and enhanced effect when the brain functions in unison. When you do a puzzle it's a complete brain exercise with both right and left sides of the brain working together. Their communication increases cognitive functions.  

5. Meditation

Puzzles can enhance and increase our brain's capacity they can also help us relax. They can be a passive exercise that doesn't have the all the buzz of a phone or a TV.  

6. Longer Attention Spans

The ability to focus for long periods of time is a trainable skill. Especially when you are doing something that is not instantly gratifying. Sitting down and focusing will increase your focus attention to detail in all parts of your life. 

7. Increase Productivity

When you are happy, less stressed and can focus for longer periods of time you will be more productive. When your concentration improves your productivity skyrockets. This is why so many modern workplaces are incorporating puzzles into their rest areas to help employees disconnect from work and come back refreshed. In many ways this is a by-product of all the little improvements puzzles can have on your life.  

8. Better Collaboration and Teamwork

Another reason why SiamMandalay puzzles are so popular in workspaces. Many of our games are multi-player and help foster small, fast team working exercises. Yale university found a correlation between workers that do puzzles and games together helped improve their relationships and their ability to cooperate.  

9. Better Mood

 
Solving puzzles and playing games with friends is a source of dopamine productions. This particular brain chemical is responsible for regulating mood and increasing optimism. The best part is, dopamine is released not just when we complete a puzzle, but every time we put a piece in the right place. 

10. Be Smarter

It's science, researchers found that spending 25 minutes a day solving puzzles and riddles can raise your IQ by 4 points. 

Now what's your excuse not to start puzzling?

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