During a seven-hour school day, students often find themselves either without work to do, or without a desire to use their free time to complete the homework they have been assigned.
While it has been a customary practice for students to turn to their technological devices during such moments, an alternative activity has become popular in the AFS community: constructing puzzles.
While some might argue that doing homework would be a more productive way to spend free time at school, building puzzles is a relaxing way for students to step away from the business of their daily lives and collaborate with their peers.
While writing a laborious essay or tackling a series of tedious math problems can be an anxiety-inducing endeavor, working on a puzzle is quite the contrary. Even just looking at a puzzle can put your mind at ease. For instance, Sol Moritz ‘24 recently brought his adorable anime puzzle into school for everyone to enjoy.
Depicting a majestic castle surrounded by luscious clouds, the puzzle was overwhelmingly cute. After a stressful class, I would often find myself making a beeline towards the puzzle table (across from U17) in order to relax my mind through the methodical piecing-together of this beautiful work of art.
Apart from myself, judging by the number of people who naturally gravitate towards the puzzles both in the library and the hallway throughout the day, I am sure I am not the only person who grounds themself by partaking in this relaxing activity.
While it is no doubt that puzzles are calming, they promote positive collaboration between students as well. With a bustling student body at AFS, I seldom find myself working on a puzzle alone. It’s fun to talk with friends while working on a project, and puzzles are no exception. In fact, I formed a wholesome friendship with Harrison Shenkman ‘24 through building a series of puzzles with him.
Shenkman and I, as two of the most adept puzzle-builders in the school, spent many hours bonding with each other and wielding our respective talents to complete the latter half of two separate puzzles earlier this semester.
It is healthy and ultimately beneficial for students to work together to complete difficult tasks, making tackling a 1000-piece puzzle with your peers the perfect combination of a brain-teasing and fun activity.
Despite the overwhelming benefits of the presence of puzzles in the AFS community, some still argue that they are a waste of time. With extracurricular club and sport team commitments, it can be difficult for students to get their homework done once the school day is over. Because of this, building a puzzle may seem like a less appealing option than cranking out the last few math problems that are due tomorrow.
While it is typically wise to prioritize homework over seemingly unproductive activities, there is always time for puzzle-building during the school day. It is important to find a healthy balance between work and leisure time, and sitting down for a short while to work on a puzzle is a great way to give your brain the rest it often needs.
Noah • Apr 2, 2024 at 11:18 pm
I completely agree with the perspective that the occasional break from the burdensome tasks in our everyday lives is a must. Last year, I was working on the puzzles in the library almost every office hours and I would say that even just those 20 minutes a day working on the puzzles made a massive difference in my performance and focus for the day. My focus tends to drift easily when I’m doing school/homework, so having the puzzle as an alternative to rejuvenate my work efficiency was extremely helpful. This year, I have shifted towards going outside to throw around a ball or just walk around, but I believe that the puzzle was crucial to my success. Furthermore, I was also inclined to find other mind-easing activities that I wouldn’t otherwise have thought to look for.
Julia Ma • Apr 2, 2024 at 10:54 am
I agree with the author because I am also one of the students who play puzzles with friends at school. The puzzles is a special relaxing game in AFS. Not only is the image of the puzzles pretty, but also it connects the relationship with the whole AFS “family”. It connects teachers and students, and also connects students who are strangers to each other. Expat puzzles, I think walking around is also one special way to relax. A lot of times, I saw Groups of students walk around the school. My friends and I have done this, too. When we walk, we like to talk on the way and it’s pretty fun. At the same time, because of the sedentary reason, walking can also exercise our leg muscles, which is also very helpful for our body.
Josephine Zemsky • Apr 2, 2024 at 10:49 am
I completely agree with the author in that I believe that the various puzzles that are often in either the library or the hallway are a great way to either de-stress after a harsh class or day or to spend your free time completing. I think that it is a great way to build community and to make connections with other people outside of your classes or grade that you might not get the chance to interact with otherwise. I find that I often enjoy watching the progress of the puzzle over several classes. Where you can watch different students working together to finish it whenever they have time.
Matthew • Apr 2, 2024 at 10:41 am
I completly agree with this article, on days where I don’t have much to do I often find myself spending hours at a time working away at a puzzle. To my count over the past 2 years I’ve helped complete 6-7 of them. It truly gives me the chance to put aside the stresses and just watch as piece by piece (no pun intented) I am, as well as my friends getting closer to achiving a goal. At times though, especailly last year, I have found my self too involed in puzzles, spending 3 hours straight just on them. So the later note of in moderation in definatley key.
Christine Lahtaw • Apr 2, 2024 at 10:41 am
I agree that puzzles are a great way to spend your free time during the school day especially if you are looking to relax your brain. Throughout the school day, I find myself pulling out my phone whenever I have free time and I also see this is true for other students. For most of the school day, we spend our time on our computers and rarely get a break off of screens. Therefore, I believe puzzles are a great alternative. You can do them with your friends and bond over this time which you wouldn’t usually do if your faces are glued to your phones. It’s also proven that puzzles are good for the brain so that’s also a plus.
Logan • Apr 2, 2024 at 10:23 am
I agree with Theo’s opinion on puzzles. I have seen more students trying to solve puzzles lately. I think it is important to distribute time in different ways than just school and phones. Having puzzles around the school sets up stations where students can go and take a break and work with other students, creating a sense of community. I have found then when I take my mind of something and do maybe a puzzle and then come back I actually progress better on that thing I’m doing. So far puzzles have helped me with math and progressing with instruments.
Solomon Fishman • Apr 2, 2024 at 10:02 am
I do agree that puzzles are a healthy activity to relax and unwind from the stressors of the school day. I think that creating puzzles and just unstructured downtime for kids to do what they love and embrace one another in the community of creating puzzles is something that is undervalued by adults. Ultimately in our society kids do not get enough opportunities to just be kids and adventure due to having many things to worry about and having many responsibilities. Also during free periods if all you do is just cram school work, you are limiting your brain’s ability to retain information and learn because your brain works better when it is given breaks. Making puzzles is actually not the only way to give your brain a much-needed and well-deserved break. You can listen to music, read an interesting book for enjoyment, draw, doodle, walk, talk to a friend, or even go outside. All of these tech-free activities and making puzzles are much healthier then aimlessly surfing the internet.
Lukas • Apr 2, 2024 at 9:23 am
While I may not enjoy or find use for puzzles around the school, I am sure that many students would agree and properly use said puzzles if supplied, so I see no wrong in this idea. I understand that some faculty might be hesitant due to it being a distraction, but puzzles can help students refocus by allowing them to keep busy while taking a short term break from a little bit of school work. Puzzles can certainly stimulate the mind to help students keep there minds busy but not feel like they are doing school work, which is a win win for all. The students commens would be a great place to keep said puzzles and keep them in that area, as if they get out of that area they could be lost or stolen, so a certain area for the puzzles might be a good idea too.
Keira Kushin • Apr 2, 2024 at 7:50 am
I agree that puzzles are a great way to relax the student mind. According to Progress Lifeline “Working on a puzzle reinforces connections between brain cells, improves mental speed and is an effective way to improve short-term memory”. There are only good benefits from puzzles. Puzzles are an excellent way to relax your brain. Many kids are always scrolling on their phone to get their mind off of things, there are tons of studies on how it is really bad for kids and their brain development. So this is a way better alternative to free your mind of stress from school and other things going on in your life.
Natalie • Apr 2, 2024 at 7:44 am
I agree with Theo Stehle-Smith. I used to have a friend named Gavin Harts, and he loved to do puzzles. I used to see him sit all by himself, in the comfort of his own surroundings, sitting and solving. He always seemed to enjoy what he did, and you can tell that he could finally wind down and free himself from everything happening around him. I use some of my free time to solve puzzles. After finding a couple of puzzles at AFS, I decided to buy some on my own. The thought of challenging my brain and using it to complete such a complex yet easy task is exciting. I was so excited to complete this puzzle that I finished it within three days! It also gave me time to challenge and relax my brain once again. By reading this book, my friends gave me information about the facts of asthma.
Logan • Apr 2, 2024 at 7:57 am
Dude No way I was thinking the same thing.
Pax • Mar 30, 2024 at 3:39 pm
I agree with this perspective on puzzling. Not only is it beneficial for promoting collaboration, but it can help calm people down and release stress during school, which is a stressful time during the day. Although it is important to complete work due the next day, reducing stress at school will improve how people act during classes and help mental health. I think there should be a balance between school work and calming activities, such as puzzling. Whenever I get stressed at school, during a free period I go to the library and read or puzzle as a way to calm down.
Nico • Mar 28, 2024 at 2:22 pm
Since I was very young I have always gravitated towards puzzles. The feeling of gratification when finding a piece that fits has filled me with joy for almost 14 years. In this article, the author tackles the question of whether or not puzzles can be a waste of free time; in my opinion, absolutely not.
There is a wide range of benefits that can obtained from working on puzzles: reinforcing connections through brain cells, improving mental speed, and even helping build a strong short-term memory. In an academic environment like AFS, spending time working on a puzzle can be exceptionally beneficial to your academic performance.
In some cases studying for a test or doing your homework may be a more beneficial use of your time, the benefits of working on puzzles should not be overlooked.
Isabella • Mar 22, 2024 at 5:53 pm
I agree with the author. Puzzle is a good way for people to relax and protect their eyes from electronic damage. I often feel that my eyes are dry and uncomfortable when playing with electronic products for a long time, but I don’t know what else to do without the electronic product. Puzzles are a good way to relax my tense mind and relieve my dry eyes. It also can help students develop a sense of geometric space. In addition, it is a good opportunity to have more communication with my friends. Once I also was attracted by the puzzle and stopped. It’s joyful for me to work on the puzzle with my friends. We enjoy it and gain a lot of happiness.
Rihanna W. • Mar 21, 2024 at 10:53 am
I agree with the idea of puzzles being a way for students to relax and take their minds off of school for short periods of time. I find myself working on the puzzles sometimes or even NYT puzzles to distract myself from reality. It’s a way to release stress mentally and give your brain a rest from school and technology. We use a lot of our energy focusing on school and assignments, so I think the puzzles are a beneficial way to relax our minds. Also sometimes people may want a break from socializing with their peers, and I find the puzzles to be a great way to do so. The puzzles can help build connections. I think it’s a great way to find new connections by working on it with people you may not socialize with on a regular basis. It’s definitely a healthier way of spending your free time, rather than engaging in our cell phones the entire day.
Zamir • Mar 21, 2024 at 10:43 am
I agree with the author’s perspective about all the benefits that puzzles can offer to the students at Abington Friends school . It is also a great way for student’s to free their minds and get away from their phones and to connect with themselves and others. A Lot of the time we are on our phones and we don’t enjoy other things outside of our phones. Puzzles also helps us build skills like leadership, focusing and communication skills. I think it would be a great thing for Afs to bring puzzles for the future classes. Also think puzzles will build friendships better than over the phone. Just over all it builds character for a human. The main factor that stood out to me was how it can help with stress or take your mind off all that. A lot of the time we use our phones to get away but why not just do a puzzle.
Luca Lemmo • Mar 21, 2024 at 10:41 am
I agree with the perceptive taken in the article, as puzzles do offer a relaxing and stress-relieving experience for students, allowing them to step away from the pressures of academic work. For me, puzzles can be really calming and help me find relaxation during breaks from classes. Not only that but puzzles can help promote positive collaboration and friendship among students. Working together on puzzles encourages teamwork and communication skills. Puzzles can be a valuable and productive way to unwind and recharge the mind during school hours. Finding a healthy balance between work and your own activities is essential. As Theo said, puzzles are also a great way of connecting many people. When doing puzzles, it helps me connect with people that I normally don’t talk to or connect with. It can be a great way for developing new friendships. This connection brings a good experience to others and may help someone’s day.
Mason Fullerton • Mar 21, 2024 at 10:34 am
I agree with the idea of puzzles being a thing for students to relieve stress as well as a thing that students can connect to. I’ve noticed a lot of students partake recently in trying to complete puzzles with each other, and I feel that is a good thing to spend free interacting with people rather than sit on a phone. School days are long and stressful at times, and to have spaces where you can just sit down and interact with one another while doing a puzzle is nice. Puzzles in general feel relaxing and somewhat nostalgic. I think in general too AFS has a lot of spaces where students can unwind in times of stress, or just to relax in general. But seeing the simplest activity as a puzzle bringing students together and relaxing is pretty nice to see. Most of the time went I want to relieve stress I’ll take a walk, but seeing more people do puzzles is something that interests me now too when thinking of taking a break.
Jermaine • Mar 21, 2024 at 10:33 am
I agree with the author’s perspective about the benefits of puzzles in this article. It is a good way for students to free their minds and get away from technology and school work. I think puzzles can also relieve stress from a student. Puzzles help build cooperation, communication, and leadership skills, especially if you are working with another person or a group of people. When I’m in my free level and I’m bored and feel like I have nothing else to do, I gather my group of friends and we’ll go work on the puzzles. I think AFS should include puzzles in the future and maybe add a puzzle in each room, so that way there are never too many people at one puzzle. It’s a good thing for students to clear their heads and be good mentally during the school day, and puzzles are a good way for students to be able to accomplish that.
Ethan Farma • Mar 21, 2024 at 10:30 am
Puzzles can be beneficial at times, as Theo said when you are stressed or just have a lot of work to complete but need a break. AFS has great opportunities to let the students either calm down or complete a relaxing activity. Some ways that I can calm down throughout the school day are either by talking to my friends or just relaxing. This perspective brings that idea greatly as it shows that there are times when you have to work, but there are other times when you can just calm down and do relaxing activities. I believe that throughout the day there needs to be points of downtime and puzzles give a great experience not only for students but also for teachers. As Theo said, puzzles are also a great way of connecting many people. I feel that when I used to do more puzzles in the library, I would find myself talking to more of my piers and some teachers. This connection brings a good experience to others and may help someone’s day.
Alejandro Perez-Fernandez • Mar 21, 2024 at 10:29 am
I think that the point of view given from this article about finding alternative ways to relax oneself outside of technology during a school day is very insightful. It takes understanding and discipline to realize that technology as a whole nowadays is taking over our society, and finding alternative solutions that have been used in the past are still helpful. I agree with the author’s perspective about the benefits of puzzles in the case of AFS. There are obviously multiple alternatives, but AFS has a gravitation to solving puzzles as the alternative to technology. For me personally I don’t tend to interact with many of my Upper School peers, rather I prefer to spend my free time relaxing with my mother down in the lower school while she teaches her Spanish classes. It helps me calm down and relax after rigorous and complex courses to just go back to where I started and see a much simpler life.
Jonas • Mar 21, 2024 at 8:54 am
Clash is better
Dillan Shafer • Mar 21, 2024 at 8:51 am
I agree with the author’s perspective in this article. Leisure in the middle of a busy school day is not just necessary but vital for my success. Some of my days at school are filled entirely with work. I may have classes for most of my levels, and then I’ll spend my free periods working, studying, meeting with a club, etc. On these days, I find that I’m exhausted by the time school ends, and I still have plenty of commitments and tasks to attend to when I get home. This causes me to be much less productive after the school day. However, when I take breaks during the school day – to talk with friends, sit outside (if it’s nice), or work on one of our puzzles, my evenings are much more productive. I believe it is important to take mental breaks during the school day, and the community’s jigsaw puzzles are a great way to do that.
Derek • Mar 21, 2024 at 8:46 am
Puzzles can be a nice way to relax after a stressful class or day. They can probably also improve cognitive ability as well. I don’t gravitate toward puzzles, but I see the value of doing them during a free period. I usually just sit on my phone if I don’t have work to do. Which probably isn’t the best but it works for me. I believe that whatever you do to destress works, then you can do it.
Remy Alper • Mar 21, 2024 at 8:44 am
I agree very deeply with this perspective because in a seven hour school day were always so busy and I feel like taking even 10 minutes just to sit and do a puzzle could really relieve stress of tension you have in your body. Puzzles are just very relaxing and I feel like they can really help calm a person and their mindset down. Some activities I do during the day to release stress is hanging with my friends whenever I get the chance and just making sure I always stop and think before I do things. I also try and do my home work (because that relives tons of my stress making sure its done) or making sure I read a book sometimes if I have the time (which is rare) but its still relaxing to do and gives me a break to really take a deep breath and just step back. I just really think its important that throughout the day you really take a second to calm yourself down.
Avila • Mar 21, 2024 at 8:33 am
I agree; the mythical experience of building a puzzle is very relaxing. Though they are not as important as homework, they are a good way to rest your brain without looking at screens. Doing this kind of thing that is mindless and monotonous is a fun activity to do during office hours while talking with your friends. I have never really participated in this activity. It does sound like something to do without screens. The only thing stopping me is the number of people who are always doing it, as well as my phone. This is the kind of thing that I would do on a no-screen day. I would enjoy the thing because it seems fun and is something you and your friends can bond over.