Whether you’ve been spending this period of social distancing alone or surrounded by what feels like your suddenly enormous family, chances are you’ve probably gotten a little stir crazy. Last week it seemed like there were plenty of activities to keep everyone entertained (Home workout classes! Virtual storytimes! Netflix Party and chill!). But now that this new normal is setting in, some people are probably feeling, well, a little bored. If we learned anything from those inspirational Instagram quotes reminding us that Shakespeare wrote King Lear while quarantined during the Black Plague, it’s that unprecedented times call for creative measures.
So, if you or your family are in need of a little fresh mental stimulation, consider a puzzle swap with another (healthy) family/friend. It goes without saying that puzzles, or anything being swapped between households, need to be adequately sanitized to prevent potential virus spread. But, once you’ve taken a Clorox wipe to your go-to beach landscape puzzle, text a friend and see if they have any puzzles they’ve already gone through that they’d like to trade. Drop the clean puzzle boxes at one another’s doors during one of your mental health walks and maybe even consider FaceTiming with a glass of wine (or several) while you break open your brand-new loot from your respective homes.
There’s nothing quite like a brand-new 1,000-piecer to keep you occupied through the weekend. And since many retailers are seriously back-ordered or experiencing delays in shipping, this is an easy and close-to-home solution that everyone can get in on. (In the meantime, here are some of our favorite puzzles that you can order online.)
All we can say is keep calm and puzzle on.
