Escape Through Puzzles
The mental health benefits of puzzling yourself.
Escapism through puzzles is common—like many other things. But it’s probably the least destructive form of escapism, from my own life experience. Perhaps yours too.
Puzzles are different from life—there is only one solution. Problem solving with only one possible solution is a very gratifying and meaningful experience.
Puzzles hold your attention, as you must focus on the colors, shapes, and sizes of the pieces. You must use your memory when solving a puzzle.
If you don’t finish the puzzle the same day, you must remember where you left off the next day. And you must work carefully to fit all the pieces together correctly.
One of the biggest victories anyone struggling with mental health (like, Moi ) can score is to make a connection not only in their mind with the puzzle, but also make that connection become real.
Here’s how puzzles can benefit your mental health:
As you sort and look for matching pieces, you’re engaging both sides of your brain
The left brain thinks rationally
The right brain thinks creatively and imaginatively
This union of reason with the abstract enables clarity
That cognitive clarity produces dopamine, the body’s natural reward chemical
When you match one piece to another, what was in the mind now is real
You get more dopamine
The process repeats for the next pieces of the puzzle
It may not sound like much—but it’s HUGE.
In response to the unique stimuli produced in solving puzzles, your brain is rerouting broken connections and making them right again!
“Wow. So, what you’re doing is rewiring your brain?”
YES. Next thing you know, tomorrow you’ll wake up a “genius” like Elon Musk—Yeesh!
So, next time you’re feeling a little depressed or anxious, just hop on Google and search for new puzzles to play. Perhaps you found some right here on Tempo’s Alphabet! Right?
Please, feel free to go puzzle yourself in the puzzles section. Instead of reading this poor blog.
Bye, for now!
