11/2/2017 0 Comments Step away from the puzzleI’ve become quite fond of jigsaw puzzles. Not the run-of-the-mill cardboard ones with regular shapes and twee pictures. I get puzzles shipped from Liberty Puzzles in the USA. They are made from high quality maple wood veneer and are laser cut into irregular shapes that fit together tightly. The pieces are tactile to hold and smell faintly of wood smoke from the laser cutting. The puzzles include pieces that Liberty call “follies” – which are puzzles within the puzzle with another narrative – usually related to the puzzle picture.
Because I am fond of fine art painting I usually choose a picture by a good painter. This one is Vanity, by Frank Cowper – painted in England in 1908. (Now a word of warning if you are going to try them. The Liberty puzzles are difficult. It can take weeks to complete one. I love that but it may not suit you). If I’m working on something and have writer’s block or need to clear my head – I find 10 minutes on a puzzle will work wonders. I go back to the task I am working on with a clearer head. In fact, this is nothing new. There has been a solid body of academic work showing the benefits of doing jigsaw puzzles in nurturing the creative power of the left side of the brain. This paper by Jan Gebers a good start if you’d like to explore more. However – in addition clearing one’s head, I’ve discovered a new truth in jigsaw puzzles that we can apply to other endeavours. This is the power of stepping away. I’ve found that sometimes I can spend 30 minutes trying to find the next piece of the Liberty puzzle I’m working on. And without success. It’s puzzle block! Then – if I step away and do something completely different for time – or go to bed – I’ve found that when I walk past later that day or next morning – often I will be able to place 4 or 5 pieces in rapid succession. Stepping away from the puzzle works wonders. So, if you are pondering a difficult challenge – maybe trying to finish that paper - or you are struggling to craft a suitable reply to a complex email – step away. Go and do something completely different, go for a walk or sleep on it until the next day. Make sure you physically step away. You’ll find that when you come back – your thoughts will flow and you’ll find those pieces. David L Thomas (also published on LinkedIn )
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