I’ve spent the last few nights with a sore back–all from hunching over the jigsaw puzzle I’ve set up on a piece of foam-board on the floor. It’s worth it, though–I’m having a lot of fun and the creepy collection of spooky portraits is almost complete!
I always enjoy a good puzzle, and as the days are getting shorter and the nights are getting colder, I’m especially enjoying the opportunity to grab my favorites from storage and get to work! Unlike many puzzle enthusiasts, I’m not a fan of gluing my puzzles together at the end in order to make them into display pieces. Rather, I like to leave up the completed product for a day or so (to admire it) and then take it apart in order to start another one!
Did you know there are many health benefits to doing puzzles? Not only do they help you relax (and decrease stress), but they keep your brain limber! Puzzles encourage attention to detail, spatial reasoning, and problem solving, as well as improving your fine motor skills and memory. Plus, they can be solo or group activities, and encourage teamwork and collaboration. And perhaps best of all, it gets you away from a screen (computer, phone, tablet, TV) for a few hours, which is certainly better for your eyes!
I tend to purchase my puzzles and do the same few favorites over and over again. But, whether you’re looking to sample a puzzle for the first time or are a hard-core puzzler who doesn’t want to keep buying new projects, consider checking out the puzzle collection at your library! We have a diverse collection of puzzles available for borrowing, no strings attached. These items don’t even have barcodes and there is no due-date! Just pick one up, take it home, and bring it back when you’re done. I would like to note: sometimes, the puzzles have missing pieces. While the library does not maintain responsibility for incomplete puzzles, we do try to label them as it comes to our attention. Puzzle at your own risk!
We also sell puzzles in our Book Nook! Come check out the selections and support the Friends of the Library!
So, what have you got to lose? Stop by your library, pick up a puzzle, and start having some educational, brain-building fun!
