Are you a fan of solving puzzles? If so, then you probably think of it as a good way to have fun – and make the time pass by more easily. However, if we think a little better, we will understand that solving different types of puzzles can have many health benefits. It can also improve skills, whether it is in children or adults. So, see below what are the benefits of solving puzzles that may truly surprise you.
Puzzles Are A Great Way To Train Your Gray Cells
Just like our muscles – our gray cells need some training too. We need to keep our brains in good shape, and one of the fun ways to do it is to solve puzzles. We need to keep in mind that solving puzzles is a great way to test our abilities, whether it’s the motor and logical skills – or developing senses like eyesight, etc. In addition to being an inexhaustible source of entertainment, brain teasers are also very useful because they strengthen the connection between brain cells – which helps us improve our memory.
That is why puzzles are not only useful for children who are developing – but also for the adults who want to improve their skills, or it can help them in certain health challenges. Puzzles actually train our brains to spot different approaches to solving certain problems. And finally, visual puzzles are there to help us train our eye muscles and vision. Let’s see some other benefits that puzzle-solving can provide to us.
1. Mental exercise
We pointed out at the beginning that regardless of age, solving puzzles can be of great benefit to our brain. Namely, by solving puzzles, depending on their type – we practice both brain hemispheres. While our left cerebral hemisphere is in charge of logical and methodical thinking, it is the right hemisphere that develops our creativity and emotions. When solving mind teasers, both brain hemispheres will work together, not always evenly – but they will definitely increase our cognitive functions regardless of age.
2. In this way, both children and adults dissipate their imagination
Children often start playing, building, and solving tasks in established, recognizable ways – until they explore new possibilities. Then they use new approaches – and try to solve things in ways you would never have imagined. Sometimes by the system of elimination, sometimes by systematization – but always in a new, unusual and magical way, unique to that child. The main advantage of solving puzzles for children is in unraveling the imagination and the development of logical reasoning. However, adults can also benefit because it leads them to a more creative way of thinking and better logical perception – which is also very important in the life of adults.
3. Solving puzzle games will improve memory
Solving puzzles also indirectly affects our good memory. Namely, during such an activity of the brain, like solving puzzles – the connections between our gray cells, that is, neurons, are strengthened. A stronger connection between neurons stimulates thought processes – but also increases logical reasoning and mental speed. This increases the overall capacity of our brain functions and improves our memory.
4. Improving fine motor skills
Although we cannot characterize solving puzzles as physical activity – it can still help us to improve certain physical predispositions such as better coordination of movements, speed, controlled use of fingers or hands, etc. So, with the help of solving puzzles like Rubik’s cube or Gan intelligent cube – we can further develop what doctors call fine motor skills. According to www.shop.gancube.com, this is not only important for children, but also for adults. Namely, very often, such exercises can be extremely useful after a state of injury – or in people who have lost good coordination of movements after a stroke, etc.
5. Solving puzzles reduces stress and increases productivity
Nowadays, we live in a time when stress has become an everyday issue, especially at the workplace. Solving puzzles in a large percentage relieves you of stress. The feeling that you have managed to solve a problem makes you feel better – and makes the stress decrease to a normal level. When you’re more satisfied and when you are not under stress, your productivity grows. Concentration improves and therefore, you will have no problem keeping the focus of your attention on work. This way, we can achieve increased productivity. Many employers have realized this themselves – so nowadays we can often find puzzles and similar games in the rest areas.
6. Improves mood
Whenever we successfully complete a task, we are overwhelmed by that familiar feeling of happiness and satisfaction. The main reason for this is dopamine secretion – which improves our sense of satisfaction, good mood, optimism, and greater motivation. It is dopamine that is released with the successful solving of puzzles, which puts us in a better mood and more motivated for the new tasks ahead. Therefore, this is definitely a good motivational exercise for both younger and older puzzle lovers.
7. Solving puzzles will delay dementia and Alzheimer’s disease
Although dementia and Alzheimer’s disease are thought to have a hereditary component – this doesn’t mean that you will get them. However, if you have a predisposition to any of these diseases, solving puzzles might be a good choice. Namely, by constantly working on improving your memory, concentration, and focus – you will succeed, if nothing else, at least delay the onset of these diseases – which in later years can be very unpleasant. By exercising in this way, you will establish better work of the brain and neurons – and motivate a better connection between them. By doing so, you reduce the chances of such and similar diseases occurring.
The Bottom Line
So, we hope that we have managed to let you know that solving puzzles has a lot of benefits for our health. With their help, you will improve your concentration, coordination of movements, and improve your mood. However, one of the greatest benefits is related to the prevention of future diseases, and we should not forget the sense of satisfaction it gives us. So, go start with your favorite brain teaser, have fun – and do something good for your health.
