Why does solving puzzles feel so satisfying?

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Jigsaw puzzles, Sudokus, crosswords, custom puzzles, and several other puzzles have succeeded in making us happy at any point in our time. Whether with family, friends, or alone, solving puzzles has always been one of the most satisfying ways to spend our time.

This activity gained precedence due to the pandemic as people stayed at home. They started taking pleasure in racking their brains to solve puzzles and reach their moment of satisfaction with its completion.

We enjoy these activities even though they can be difficult, mentally taxing, and time-consuming. Why?

Now, scientists are examining those delightful little discoveries in greater detail to learn how the brain functions while solving puzzles. Let us discuss what satisfies us when we solve a puzzle.

1. That Eureka moment!

Moments of foresight happen when brand-new ideas appear in your consciousness unexpectedly. These moments make you rely on instincts. This factor is opposed to sequential logical reasoning, which uses purposeful, conscious thought. You didn't have the answer to a puzzle right then. You do it a split second later. It might be where that puzzle piece fits, the word in the anagram, or the best way to defeat your opponent in a board game.

This moment gives you a special feeling of achievement that is not comparable to any other feeling ever!

2. Fills you with zeal and enthusiasm

Solving a puzzle fills you with all the energy, motivation, and zeal you need in every walk of your life. It fills you with positivity, and the rush of pleasure accentuates the feeling. Placing the last piece of a jigsaw puzzle is a blast of emotions and satisfaction that holds no bounds.

3. Acts as a mental exercise for your brain

Since puzzles work on the right and left sides of the brain, they can be considered a total brain workout. The left is analytical, rigorous, and empirical, whereas the right controls innovation, impulses, and creative thoughts.

Both sides must cooperate and communicate when solving a puzzle, improving learning ability. The occipital lobe is also active in the brain where colours and shapes are connected in different lobes. Mental exercise aids in preventing cognitive degeneration.

4. Improves your attention to detail

When you solve a puzzle, it enhances the way you think. You need to pay extremely minute attention to details when solving a puzzle. For instance, two pieces of a jigsaw puzzle might look very similar, and distinguishing between them to identify the right one requires maximum attention to minute details. The more the ability to spot details more is our puzzle-solving capability. 

This capability improves our quality of work since precision and perfection are something nobody can't deny.

5. Brings out the inquisitive feelings in us

Humans naturally look for patterns, strive to make sense of their surroundings, resolve issues, and seek creative solutions to improve their lives. Everyone possesses these attributes; they manifest themselves in various ways depending on the individual's personality and mode of interaction with the outside world.

Various kinds of puzzles, like collage puzzles, jigsaws, and crosswords, bring out this curious version of humans in every form.

6. Every puzzle has a clear purpose 

Puzzles are a saviour when people feel aimless and map out their work. Puzzles can help provide a clear goal in pensive times. It will help you spend your time effectively while maintaining your focus. Each correct piece in a jigsaw puzzle leads to a rush of dopamine that helps soothe the brain and prepares an individual for more action.

7. It Is a Calming Experience

Many people find that completing a jigsaw puzzle is almost like meditation. People must be aware and unwind when concentrating on particular puzzle pieces. Additionally, it is a visceral work devoid of outside stimuli like electronics. Your brain might be able to process various emotions and opinions that have been troubling you while blocking out negative ones in this state of meditation. The activity also helps us in boosting our productivity after it is done.

Hence, solving puzzles feels so satisfying, and we feel a surge of adrenaline at every proper answer. Also, puzzles hold the ability to bring us together and work to achieve a common goal. They instil a sense of pride owing to the complexity involved in solving them, making puzzle-solving stand out from the other ways we engage in leisure.

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