We all get so caught up in our lives. For many, it simply never stops. When we finally get a break, often all we want to do is sink into the couch and catch up on our favorite show. Tackling anything that feels like work is the last thing on our minds.
At weekend markets, I invite people to “Try a Puzzle,” but for many adults, it feels like an invitation to work—or even to be judged. They say they need a coffee first, and I totally get it—I’ve usually had two by then myself.
But my message, if you’re open to it, is this: Try Puzzling Mindfully.
Having practiced mindfulness for over a decade, I’ve discovered that these wooden puzzles can be powerful mindfulness tools. Each piece offers a tactile anchor—something beautiful and grounding.
For instance, consider the wood itself: a dark hardwood called Monkey Pod from Central and South America. Each puzzle piece is unique, with its own tones and grains that change as you examine it. As you hold it, feel its weight and texture. Notice its coolness against your skin, the detail of its handcrafting.
Mindfulness teaches us to anchor our wandering thoughts on simple sensations. With these puzzles, you’re not solving to “win” but to experience each piece for what it is. Let the grain of the wood or the feel of it between your fingers be your anchor—drawing you back from the rush of thought to the present moment.
Slow puzzling isn’t about escaping or zoning out; it’s about tuning in. And in this gentle, grounded attention, you may just find a rare, quiet space in a busy world.
