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Defining the word puzzle is something of a challenge, so it can be hard to explain to others just what about them is so helpful when it comes to stemming the tide of aging. Any interesting problem or challenge might be deemed a puzzle. Something as simple as a riddle or as complicated as the crosswords that once graced the pages of the Sunday paper fit this bill.
In either case, however, it’s clear that those who do them regularly receive some physiological benefits. Over time, brain matter starts to break down in much the same way as any muscle would. If you don’t exercise it regularly, then there’s a good chance that it could start to decline rather rapidly. Psychologists have increasingly referred to puzzles as brain workouts that perform much the same function for your mind that lifting weights would for your biceps.
Jigsaw puzzles in particular can also act as a form of stress relief, since they give people something else to focus on than their normal routine. People who elect to do a physical jigsaw puzzle at night as opposed to watch television might be better rested and able to take on the various stresses of the next day.
Visual-spatial reasoning isn’t a field that most people outside of the mental health space often discuss, but it’s something that becomes increasingly important with age. Actively solving jigsaw puzzles and other amusements based around some form of physical manipulative can have a major positive impact on this skill. It may even boost your mood, especially if you turn to one when you’re frustrated. Working on a puzzle gives you some time to relax without having to focus on other repetitive tasks that could increase stress levels.
All of these benefits have made puzzles something of a hot commodity on the collector market. Companies that want to sell these products would do well to segment their potential customers and focus on who might be the most interested in investing in a new design. Emphasize customization and the ability to tailor everything to their specific needs. Potential customers interested in giving away a thoughtful gift are going to be very interested in those kinds of options, especially if they already want to offer something that could help someone close to them.
Specialized artwork could even have some emotional impact. Someone who used a picture that meant something important for another member of their family could really surprise someone else with their gift. Best of all, these provide an interesting opportunity for bonding time because jigsaw puzzles are something people can do together.
Emotional intelligence is something that’s lacking in most brain training courses. Collaboratively building a puzzle is a way to get all of the benefits of conventional memory training while simultaneously practicing important interpersonal skills. Since jigsaw puzzles can be put back together the moment they’re disassembled, they’re even an excellent source of reusable entertainment. It’s likely that psychology researchers are going to start paying closer attention to them for these and many other reasons.
