Puzzle - teamwork

Troubleshooting

Problem solving is useful in all aspects of life, but especially when it comes to puzzles. Someone who can break down the larger problem of assembling 500 or 1,000 parts into smaller, more manageable stages makes the problem much more approachable.

Key tip : If you're struggling with where to start, find four corner pieces and as many straight edges as possible. Once you've completed most of the outer edge, start in one corner and practice. This not only gets you in the flow, but also reduces the number of pieces left which can help with the rest of the puzzle.

Pattern recognition

The ability to spot patterns is key when it comes to handling a puzzle well. Some designs have color blocks and distinctive lines, allowing you to determine which pieces go where. If you're a natural at spotting patterns, stop what you're doing and grab the nearest puzzle!

Key Tip : Group pieces of the same colors and patterns to help you focus, especially on larger puzzles! It is much easier to browse 100 sorted pieces as opposed to 1000 unsorted pieces.<

Team players

Some of our puzzles, such as topo maps of an area, use (or bribe) their friends and family to help them put the pieces together. Giving everyone a personal role or having everyone look for the missing piece is a great way to spend time together.

Key tip : Let your family, friends, kids (or everyone) do the hard work for you! Solving a puzzle is always a little more fun when you do it with someone else.

Creativity

While there are many different ways to approach a puzzle, we often find that "naturalists" are the more creative types. Once they're sorted, they can have the ability to browse through the pieces and start working on the areas they find most interesting. A creative approach, especially creative design, definitely helps when it comes down to it.

Key tip : Take regular breaks if you get frustrated and stuck with stacking. Sometimes you'll come back and be able to find the exact piece you've been looking for for the last 20 minutes!

Slow and steady

Last but not least, we have the slow and steady puzzles - we all know someone who constantly has an unsolved puzzle. It seems to us that these guys are the ones who enjoy doing a few pieces a day and slowly putting the puzzle together over time.

Key tip: take it easy! Enjoy the journey, not just the destination.

We'd love to hear your thoughts on what makes someone good at puzzles - do you agree with our top five?