Benefits of Crosswords and Why You Need To Do Them!

Since its debut on 21st December 1913 in The New York World, the crossword has held a special place in our hearts. It’s not just a game but a journey through time, challenging us and rewarding us with the thrill of solving each puzzle.

From its humble beginnings in the fun section of that specific publication, crosswords have evolved into a versatile pastime. Today, they can be found in most printed newspapers and magazines, as well as in dedicated books and online platforms, offering a 24/7 crossword experience for everyone.

What’s the secret behind the crossword’s enduring popularity? The answer lies in the myriad of personal benefits it offers. Let’s delve into why this game is not just fun but also a boost for your mental health.

Whether you enjoy your daily word puzzle or you simply want to know more about why this popular game is so beneficial, read on for the benefits of doing crosswords.

Improved Vocabulary

When you’re doing crosswords to solve the puzzle, you might need to find or use words that you might not otherwise use in your everyday vocabulary. While the clues will be challenging so as not to make it too easy for you, it can be a great way to learn different words you might not have come across before or learn the meaning of words and how to use them in your language. In short, aside from reading a dictionary, crosswords are excellent for improving vocabulary.

Improved Cognitive Function

Studies have proven that solving crosswords on a daily basis is beneficial and improves your working memory and short-term memory, too. The reason is that crosswords force you to make connections between the clues and the words to find the right solution to the problem. You can help to ward off cognitive decline because you are putting your brain to the test to solve the clues and this type of challenging action on a regular basis, which helps to keep the neurons firing and those essential pathways forming, which are what help to reduce cognitive decline.

Stress Reliever

If you find you are overly stressed, a crossword can be a great tool to use. On the face of it, it might seem like struggling to solve crosswords can increase stress levels, but this is only temporary. But what the crossword does is force you to think about something other than your problems and the things causing you stress. Being able to take your mind off these problems can help you to reduce stress and help you relax, even if just for a little while.

Learn New Things

As mentioned at the top of the post, there are many ways to access crosswords, and over the years, the words, clues, and themes of crosswords have spanned many genres and become expansive in their topics and creative in their clues and answers. This means you can find crosswords based on a range of topics, from general word puzzles to animal-themed crosswords, treacle ones, health puzzles to solve, and many more. The more different topics you cover while completing crosswords, the more information you will be exposed to and the more you will be able to learn. Add this to the improved vocabulary mentioned above, and you can expand your knowledge and understanding of language easily and in a fun and easy way. Essentially, you’re learning without realizing you’re learning.

Boost Socialisation

Crossword puzzles are great to do alone or with others. And if you are looking for fun, whether it’s to do with family or friends or even in a group setting, crosswords can be a great way to connect and start conversations. Let’s say you do a daily crossword on your way to work each day; once you arrive, you can then ask colleagues to help with words you are struggling with and get their input. But this is something you can do anywhere with anyone: family, friends, coworkers, or even a stranger in a coffee shop. It’s entirely up to you, but a crossword puzzle can be a great way to build social connections.

So there you go; the humble crossword isn’t just a word-based puzzle designed to take up space in a newspaper. It is a valuable tool for many people to use to help them boost their cognitive function, build new pathways, preserve mental health, and, more importantly, have a fun hobby they enjoy doing. It is beneficial for mental health and brain health, so why not try your hand at completing a crossword today and see how beneficial it is for you?