The holiday season is upon us, and it’s time to decide on gifts for your employees. Christmas bonuses and gift cards are the usual go-to gifts. This year, consider giving something unique and engaging. Puzzles can make enjoyable holiday gifts for employees. Not only are they entertaining, but puzzles also provide a sense of accomplishment, a break from the workday, and much more. Choosing puzzles as a gift offers a refreshing change from traditional options while fostering skills and qualities that can benefit both employees and the workplace as a whole. Here are five reasons why giving employees puzzles for the holidays could be an excellent idea.
Helps Reduce Stress
Puzzles require concentration, allowing the brain to focus on a single task and temporarily tune out other distractions. Engaging with a puzzle can create a sense of calm, similar to meditation. As pieces come together and the final image starts to appear, employees may experience a relaxing effect, helping to ease the day’s stress. The ability to switch gears and engage in a focused yet low-stress activity can have significant mental health benefits.
Encourages Togetherness
Puzzles can bring people together and foster teamwork. Imagine giving employees puzzles at the annual holiday office party. Tom from accounting notices the puzzle Sam from IT received and strikes up a conversation—a rare occurrence until now. As others open their puzzles, small groups might form to help each other, sparking new interactions and camaraderie. This interaction may contribute to a more connected and collaborative workplace environment.
Supports Problem-Solving Skills
Whether a puzzle has a hundred or a thousand pieces, completing it requires patience and perseverance. Finding each piece requires time and focus. This process of working through a challenge one step at a time can help reinforce valuable problem-solving skills that may be useful in the work environment. The patience and persistence learned through puzzles are transferable to handling complex or multi-step tasks on the job.
Creates a Sense of Accomplishment
Puzzles present a challenge that demands concentration, persistence, and motivation. Upon completing a puzzle, individuals often feel a sense of accomplishment, which can lift their mood and confidence. This positive feeling can extend into the workplace, where employees might become more motivated to tackle challenges and find satisfaction in achieving goals. As confidence builds, employees may feel more valued and effective in their roles.
Fosters Creativity
Puzzles frequently require creative thinking to find solutions. Completing a jigsaw puzzle, for example, involves testing different pieces to see what fits. This process taps into creative problem-solving by encouraging people to look at shapes, colors, and patterns from multiple angles. Encouraging employees to strengthen their creative thinking skills can help them view tasks and work-related problems with fresh perspectives. When team members feel confident approaching tasks from various viewpoints, they are better equipped to adapt and innovate. In an ever-evolving work environment, the ability to think creatively is invaluable, as it can help employees find unique solutions to challenges and improve overall workflow.
Although employees may not immediately recognize the benefits, incorporating puzzles into holiday gifting can offer them a thoughtful and refreshing break from routine work tasks. Puzzles provide opportunities for relaxation, teamwork, and creative thinking while promoting self-confidence and problem-solving. By choosing puzzles as gifts, employers can support a positive and engaging workplace culture that celebrates employee well-being and growth.
Published By: Aize Perez
