It’s true… puzzles are good for you!

Increases mindfulness and relieves anxiety and stress
Stress and anxiety can be caused by many things, and puzzles are great way to relieve them. Taking little breaks and focusing on completing an absorbing puzzle can help you feel happier and calmer.

Vocabulary booster (for wordies)
Word puzzles can help to build your vocabulary. By completing word puzzles, you’re digging deep to remember words that you know (but may not have used for a while!) and you might look them up if you don’t know them yet, which overall leads to a boost in your vocabulary.

Increases focus and preserves memory
Exercising your brain by completing a puzzle can help enhance your executive function by keeping your brain busy and sharp, especially as you get older. This can be improved even further by increasing the difficulty level of a puzzle and timing yourself.

Social and fun
Even though it’s enjoyable to complete a puzzle on your own, some are fun to solve with friends and family to build connections through conversation. This social aspect can improve your quality of life, and lift the spirits!

Puzzles are an affordable hobby
There’s no need to invest in loads of equipment to start puzzling – all you need is a pen or pencil (and possibly an eraser!). Puzzles are a really good form of low-cost entertainment, and you can start solving very easily today.

“Many a nervy plane ride has been eased by the joy of a jolly crossword. And many a lovely moment has been made lovelier by the jotting, colouring, workings-out of all your fabulous puzzles. I’ve taken you on picnics, to the beach, and we’ve sat in many cosy armchairs by a fire together.

“If I have learnt nothing else in my 50 years, it’s that, as a friend of mine likes to say, ‘There’s no time to rush’. We must slow down to savour the precious time we have. Get still to celebrate the beautiful, everyday miracles of life. Is there anything better than relishing a steaming cup of your favourite hot beverage as you watch some gentle rain fall, all from the comfort of your favourite chair with a book of puzzles on your lap – not much? Be present and mindful and follow what we uniquely love to do and were made to do, how best we rest, how best we serve; and no doubt for many of us puzzlers, a sit-down with ‘Puzzler’ encapsulates many of these important keys to living life well.”