Not every jigsaw needs company. For many puzzlers, the best puzzles are the ones done alone, late in the evening, with nothing else on the go.
Time that belongs to you
Most of the day is spent responding to something. Emails, messages, people, deadlines. A jigsaw is one of the few activities that asks for your attention without wanting anything back.
You sit down, look at a pile of pieces and start sorting. Nobody is waiting on you. There's no clock. After a while, the rest of the day tends to fade into the background.
Thinking without trying
Plenty of people find that a jigsaw clears their head. Your hands and eyes are busy with shapes and colours, which leaves the rest of your mind free to wander. Problems you've been chewing on all week sometimes sort themselves out while you're hunting for an edge piece.
Others prefer not to think at all. That's fine too. A jigsaw works either way.
Making the most of solo puzzling
- · Set up somewhere you can leave the puzzle out, so you can dip in for ten minutes or two hours.
- · Use good light. A lamp that lights the table well makes a big difference.
- · Put the phone in another room.
- · Play some music or a podcast, or enjoy the quiet.
Choosing a puzzle for yourself
Pick a picture you'll enjoy looking at for a long time. You'll be studying it closely for many hours. Pomegranate's art puzzles are a favourite for this, because you get to know a painting in a way you never would on a gallery wall.
If you want a longer project, try 1500 pieces. Ravensburger's range has plenty of options at that size.
Slow is the point
There's no prize for finishing quickly. Some puzzlers take a month over a puzzle and enjoy every evening of it.
Find your next quiet project at Jigsaws Australia.