Why Puzzling Became My Favorite Way to Unwind — And Everything I Swear By for Puzzling
By Sandra Large | Things I Swear By
I found puzzling at exactly the right time.
I was in the middle of selling my gym after 22 years — a process that was exciting and emotional and overwhelming all at once. A client at the gym suggested puzzles as a way to decompress and I thought why not. I sat down at my kitchen table with my first puzzle and something just clicked. Literally and figuratively.
Six months later I am completely hooked and I haven't looked back.
There is something almost meditative about puzzling. The moment I sit down and start sorting pieces the rest of the world fades away. I'm not thinking about my to-do list or what's next. I'm just focused on finding that one perfect piece. And when it clicks into place? That little burst of satisfaction never gets old. I can lose myself for hours and hours in a puzzle and come out the other side feeling genuinely calm and restored.
But there's something else that keeps me coming back.
My Mom was a devoted puzzler in the final years of her life. Every time I sit down at my puzzle table I feel close to her. It's become one of my favorite ways to honor her memory — quietly, peacefully, one piece at a time. 💛
🧩 Buffalo Games — End of Day by Abraham Hunter
This was one of my early favorites and it completely set the standard for what I look for in a puzzle. Abraham Hunter's artwork is breathtaking — a red barn glowing in the last light of a stunning sunset, wildflowers along the water's edge, that gorgeous pink and orange sky.
But this puzzle means more to me than just a beautiful image.
I grew up on a farm. And the moment I opened this puzzle and saw that red barn, that sunset, that peaceful countryside scene — it took me right back. Back to my childhood, back to my Mom and Dad, back to a simpler time that lives in my heart. I could feel it the moment I started sorting the pieces.
That's the magic of a great puzzle image. It doesn't just give you something pretty to look at — it gives you something to FEEL. And I felt everything with this one.
I can still remember sitting at my table with this one completely lost in it for hours. This is exactly why I puzzle — to get lost in something beautiful and peaceful and come out feeling restored and connected to the people and places I love most.
Buffalo Games quality is outstanding as always and the reference poster is perfection.
📦 Large Puzzle Sorting Trays
Okay I have to be honest — sorting is actually my FAVORITE part of puzzling. I know that might sound strange but hear me out. The better I sort before I start the easier and more enjoyable the whole puzzle becomes. Sorting almost becomes its own little game for me.
🧩 Buffalo Games — Aimee Stewart's Northern Lights
This is my absolute favorite puzzle I've done so far and I don't think anything will top it for a long time. A cozy reading room, a cat curled up by the window, the most breathtaking aurora borealis filling the night sky outside — it's the kind of image that makes you happy just looking at it for hours.
This is exactly the type of puzzle I love — rich colors, incredible detail, a scene that feels warm and magical and inspiring all at once. Every time I sat down to work on this one I genuinely didn't want to stop. Buffalo Games quality is as good as always — beautiful pieces, perfect fit and of course the reference poster I can't live without.
If you only buy one puzzle this year make it this one. I mean it.
🟫 Coobe Felt Puzzle Board for 1000 Pieces
My original puzzle board is no longer available on Amazon — but I loved it so much I went looking for the best replacement to recommend to you. A felt puzzle board is absolutely essential if you don't have a dedicated puzzle table.
This Coobe board is sized perfectly for 1000 piece puzzles, lightweight enough to carry easily to another room, and comes with a cover to protect your puzzle when you're not working on it. No more worrying about bumping the table or losing pieces when you need to move it!
It's one of the best puzzle investments you can make — I promise you won't regret it.
She Knew What She Was Doing 💛
My Mom knew what she was doing all those years. Just look at that smile — that's the smile of someone who just put the last piece in place. I understand it now more than ever. Every time I sit down at my puzzle table I feel her right there with me. 💛
If you've been thinking about trying puzzling — this is your sign. Start with a beautiful image, get yourself some good sorting trays, and lose yourself for a few hours. I promise you won't regret it.
Have a favorite puzzle brand or a puzzle that blew you away? Tell me in the comments — I'd love to hear about it!