Eclectic: Regina - Being “puzzled” During the Winter

Regina - SSTattler

By Regina Price

Sometimes during the winter, people who had problems with their health in the past or anyone else who are not working might be thinking, “What can I do during the dark, windy, snowy days that come up?” One answer might be — do a puzzle. It could very difficult with lots of pieces or it might be simple and easy on our brains — whatever eases our boredom (and looking out the windows into the weather constantly).

Some people don’t believe that puzzles could help us and organize our brains by shaping the neurons and re-firing them. I am a product of my brain losing lots of my brain matter during my aneurysm rupture. So, putting together a puzzle could help me — although it could also be puzzling and frustrating! In the past, I got some puzzles through the store called Value Village but a person could pick them up through friends, other second hand stores or garage sales.

When you are ready to start building the puzzle, take the box and look at the picture intimately — to get a sense of the picture. Then put it down and get a cup of tea or coffee. Second, find a good place to work — a dining table or other unused table in your home. You need some flat and roomy place to put some of the pieces out.


The first things one can do are going through of puzzle pieces in the box and find all the border pieces with the outside flat edge. This takes some “time” — perhaps it is a good time for a snack and another cup of whatever you were drinking.

After that, try sorting into areas of the edge of the puzzle which look they could fit together — shape, color, part of the picture — whatever matches for you. Get as far as you want. After the time you spend doing part the outside edge, take a break and do something else.

The next day, keep walking close to the puzzle and think about it and put a few more pieces on the outside side. On some days, you won’t have time to work on the puzzle — perhaps you have serious visitors or TV shows to watch or cooking or whatever is on your schedule. The puzzle will be they’re waiting for your expertise to finding pieces in the future — be patient — as the puzzle is.

When you are finished the edge, rejoice. Then move on. The next step might be getting colors — like all the green, blue, gray, to into piles. Or you might see small bits of the whole puzzle and find pieces that will fit into this small piece. In the future and get them to fit with other little bits of the puzzle.

Over the winter, in Alberta for sure, you have months to complete the puzzle. Take your time and enjoy the experience every day. Do it when it feels good and walk away when it frustrates you. Over time, you will finish or be finished — whatever is your experience — but building a puzzle is good for your brain and the boredom of winter. Enjoy it as much as you can!