Jigsaw puzzles have been in the spotlight during lockdown, and we are pleased that people have been able to experience the soothing effects of puzzling. With the benefits of completing jigsaws widely documented currently, this has encouraged a whole new wave of people to the puzzling community.
One of the main advantages of jigsaw puzzles is encouraging you away from your screens, and with UK Unplugging Day just around the corner (Sunday 28th June 2020), we are teaming up with Time to Log Off - taking a look into why being so invested in our devices can affect our lives, how we can take steps to step away from our phones… and of course, how puzzles can be a great item to have during a ‘digital detox’.
DO YOU FEEL “ALWAYS SWITCHED ON”?
With a smartphone in our pocket the majority of our waking hours, it’s leading us to a feeling of “always being switched on” - the average smartphone user checks their phone every 12 minutes! The act of just receiving a notification, even if you don’t reply to it, is enough to severely distract you. Especially at the moment where many of us are working from home, putting us at an increased risk of feeling burnt out
However, Tanya Goodin, digital detox expert, author, and founder of Time to Log Off has spent her entire career focused on the interaction between people and technology. She’s looked into ways that we can take better care of our digital wellbeing - Ultimately, it’s not about ditching our devices for good, just learning how we start taking steps towards healthier habits surrounding our screen time. Which in turn will help us be more present in the moment and prioritise our real relationships and experiences over virtual ones.
A few things habits you can start working towards to improve your relationship with technology;
- Do this quiz to see if you’d benefit from a digital detox
- Try the 5:2 ‘Digital Diet’ - There’s even a handy Cheat Sheet!
- Go for a walk at lunchtime - nature is a great antidote for burn out and you’ll feel refreshed and energized
- Set some time aside in the evening to read a physical book instead of scrolling through articles online. We recommend one of Tanya Goodin’s digital detox books
- Taking part in UK Unplugging Day
UK Unplugging Day, co-ordinated by Time to Log Off, is a UK-wide 24 hour break from the digital world to enable us to disconnect from our devices and reconnect with our family, friends, loved ones and communities in real life. You can find more info here
And although the majority of us won’t be able to commit to the full day, you’ll be so surprised at what even a few hours break can do!
A lot of us turn to our phones when we feel bored, so the best way to preoccupy yourself during a digital detox is with an ‘analogue alternative’ – Time to Log off have a series of “creative quarantine” ideas that include sewing and cooking. But they also agree that jigsaw puzzles are another excellent way to stimulate your brain, especially if you’re not feeling particularly creative!
“We always encourage trying a mindful activity, where you get into ‘flow’ and forget about time passing, when you spend time off your phone. And one that involves keeping twitchy hands busy is even better. Puzzles are the perfect digital detox activity as they tick both boxes, we’re big fans of puzzles at Time To Log Off!”
-Tanya Goodin
A study entitled 2013 paper for the International Journal of Play by Angela Garcia, PhD who has been researching puzzles for more than 20 years, found that the brain engages in several types of thinking during puzzle work.
“Doing the process that you had for finding [puzzle] pieces and testing whether they fit or not, you do an embodied activity that is part intellectual and part mechanical,” and likened puzzle completion to “guided daydreaming” and “play therapy”.
We know that we are happiest when completing puzzles – and we hope you feel that too! Let us know if you’ll be participating in UK Unplugging day, using the hashtag #UKUnpluggingDay