Puzzles for the Social Butterflies: How Group Puzzling Fosters Connection and Collaboration

We all know that jigsaw puzzles can help us destress, unwind, and work our brains in a different way than everyday tasks. But did you know that puzzling with a group can also help us connect with others on a deeper level? Let’s dive in and learn more about the top 5 benefits of solving a jigsaw puzzle with another person or in a small group.

1. Ease Conversations

For some people, conversing with someone while making eye contact can be difficult. Doing a jigsaw puzzle with another person can help facilitate easy conversation as there is something for both parties to focus on other than each other.

Bonding with family over puzzles

This can take a lot of the strain away from having a conversation about something important, deep, or challenging to talk about allowing both parties to have a much more positive experience.

2. Improve Listening Skills

Puzzling can also help you be a better listener. When you're working on a jigsaw puzzle with someone else, you need to be able to listen to their ideas and suggestions. This can help you learn to be more receptive to other people's points of view and will allow you to become a better team player overall. 

3. Increase Patience

In addition to strengthening your listening skills, jigsaw puzzles can also help increase your patience. As some puzzles can be very difficult, you will need to have patience with yourself and puzzling partners as you work together.

Teams work together to complete a 1000-piece puzzle

Searching for the right piece or waiting for someone to finish their section can take a lot of skill in patience, and is definitely something that can be applied to other areas in your life. 

4. Building Trust Through Teamwork

Completing a jigsaw puzzle naturally brings teamwork and collaboration to the forefront. When people work on a puzzle together, they have the same end goal uniting them - to finish the puzzle! You can work with others to piece one section together, or all work on different parts of the image and help sort pieces for one another.

Four-person team completing a puzzle

You’ll build trust in the team as you need to rely on others to do their part of the picture and help you find the pieces you need to complete yours. You also will need to discuss strategy and coordinate your plans for finishing the puzzle, which can build skills that you can use to problem solve in other areas of your life. It’s an especially great way to improve those problem solving skills with a work team or cohort.

5. Decrease Stress

As discussed earlier, jigsaw puzzles are known for being a way to practice self-care and take a break from the everyday stresses of the world. This relaxing activity’s ability to destress can be enhanced by working with others on the same puzzle.

Piecing together a puzzle allows you to spend quiet time with the people you love and work together on a beautiful piece of artwork. It lets you share your passion with others, which can definitely make you feel joy! It also can just be more fun to puzzle with others - double the people and double the fun!

Team No Snacks at the USA Jigsaw Puzzle Association Competition

Overall, doing a jigsaw puzzle with someone else can be a great way to improve communication and build relationships. It's a fun and relaxing activity that can help you learn to work together, communicate effectively, and listen to others. If you’re trying to find the easiest way to get your hands on a puzzle to work on with family or friends, look no further than Completing the Puzzle.

Completing the Puzzle delivers a puzzle from thousands in their collection to your front door. When you’re finished with the puzzle, put it back in the prepaid mailer and send it back and receive your next puzzle. Save time and space by not having to find a puzzle and store it yourself! If you want to try this service out for yourself, use code SPECIAL20 for 20% OFF your first month of your Completing the Puzzle membership today!