The struggle is real…staying home, trying to work, longer and less frequent shopping excursions, sanitizing, and trying to keep the creative drive going. What to do? Well, I have squeezed in a number of activities… some training, a walk here and there, home improvement type work, and piecing together a Nancy Drew jigsaw puzzle for the second time.
Nancy Drew, Round 2
In December of 2018, I received the Nancy Drew puzzle as a gift, and at some point during the winter months of 2019, I made several “Artist Dates” to complete it. It was a fun activity to do during the winter. The version of the puzzle I have pictures 56 book covers, which brought back great memories of the many mystery books I enjoyed reading when I was younger. And, that was a great way to launch into writing!
I pulled the puzzle out again this April to work on it again. Still fun and challenging the second time, but I was surprised at how much I remembered about a good portion of the individual pieces. It was easier to note the colors, “texture”, and shape of the pieces and to distinguish more quickly the differences between the books represented in the puzzle.
As always, it inspired me to write, and perhaps, in the near future, there will be a mystery book on my reading list once again. I’ve forgotten the plots and details of the Nancy Drew books I read, and I’m sure I wouldn’t view the tales in the same light as I did when I first read them. But wouldn’t it be great to revisit them with a different perspective? The Nancy Drew books were a stepping stone to so many other mystery writers and stories over the years.
Puzzle Benefits
Put together a jigsaw puzzle, and you will likely use a mix of linear thinking and intuition, logic and creativity. When you work on a puzzle, you’ll need to look at individual pieces and determine how they fit into the big picture. This helps improve visual-spatial reasoning, an important ability to have to handle everyday tasks like driving a car, using a map, and so many other activities. Artists, architects, and engineers, among others, benefit greatly from visual-spatial reasoning.
Jigsaw puzzles can help to reinforce connections between brain cells. They require memory, concentration, and patience and can help to improve short-term memory. Have you ever noticed that new ideas and insights can surface when you are focused solely on one task?
Puzzles can also be a great way to enter a state of meditation as you focus on one image for a long period of time, and they can be a great way to relieve stress as well. If you need, or have, some time alone, puzzles are a great activity to take up. But they can also be a fun way to connect with family and friends.
Pass some time in a restful way and sharpen your mind. Get puzzling!
JUICE UP
Do you have any jigsaw puzzles lurking at the back of a closet, in the attic, or basement? If so, find one that you feel is meaningful and/or challenging, pull it out, and get to work!
If not, you can always order one online, or borrow one from a friend. If you have the space, set the puzzle up on a separate table, so you can return to it over time.
Think about how the act of putting the pieces makes you feel. What would it be like to always have a puzzle in progress?
CREATE YOUR OWN JIGSAW PUZZLE
Why not show off your own talent? Have a great photo that you want to share with others? There are many companies. such as Creative Jigsaw Puzzles, that will take your photo and create a jigsaw puzzle for you to complete on your own or to pass along as a gift!