I don’t know about you, but I ran out of things to do rather fast. Or at least I’m finding it harder to do all of the things I wanted to during this quarantine. My nightstand has a stack of unread books on it that I’m slowly making my way through, but I’m having trouble staying focused.
Enter my newest stay focused and have fun pastime: puzzles. During a time when it feels like nothig is certain, there’s an undeniable satisfaction in knowing that every piece has its place. All you have to do is look for it, and you’ll be rewarded with a picture you put together yourself.
It’s also a great way to do something with your quarantine pals, without actually having to talk. You can just sit next to each in silence, puzzling. It’s a surprisingly fun happy hour activity, too. And the puzzle industry has gone through somewhat of a refresh in the past few years. Millennials, eager to get away from phones and laptops, have created new puzzles with artistic and cool images. For example, Piecework Puzzles are aesthetically pleasing on every level, from their coffee-table book pretty boxes to their cool, fashion-y images they art direct themselves each collection. Try their Disco Queen puzzle for a nostalgic, glittery image that looks like the kind of party we want to have when this is all over.
What about the front page of the New York Times? A mesmerizing color gradient? A funky 80’s inspired pool? A Frank Lloyd Wright masterpiece? Whatever you’re into, I can guarantee there’s a puzzle for it.
Maybe you’re already a master. Then you want the old-school, 1000 piece puzzles that you can really sink some time into. White Mountain Puzzle’s French Kitchen puzzle, which reminds me of Julia Child’s kitchen, is perfect for anyone who loves cooking. Or try their Readers Paradise for a real challenge.
Shop our favorite puzzles below:
All of our recommendations are curated by Susan & the In The Groove editorial team. In some, but not all cases, we receive a small commission for leading you to what, how and where to buy all this wonderful stuff.