Trying to Unplug? Puzzlers Have Been Doing It All Along

The average American spends around 7 hours a day on screens, with over 4–5 hours of that just on their phone. (Digital 2024 Report) And it’s not just throughout the day—nearly half of people check their phone within 10 minutes of waking up. (Statista) So it’s no surprise people are starting to crave something different.

What Being “Always Connected” Is Actually Doing

It’s easy to think this whole “analogue movement” is just a trend—but there’s a reason people are craving it. Because being constantly connected is starting to take a toll.

Research has linked high screen use to increased anxiety, depression, and even feelings of loneliness. It’s also been shown to affect sleep quality, especially when we’re on our phones late at night. And it’s not just about how we feel—it’s how we function. Constant notifications and phone checking can impact focus, memory, and attention span. That feeling of not being able to concentrate like you used to? There’s actually a reason for it.

There’s also this growing awareness around how automatic phone use has become. Reaching for it when we’re bored. Filling every quiet moment. Not even realizing how often we’re doing it. And the more we stay in that cycle, the harder it is to step away from it. Which is why something as simple as sitting down with a puzzle can feel… different.

Lately it feels like everywhere you look, people are talking about “going analogue.” Less screen time. More presence. Slower hobbies. Vinyl records are back. People are reading physical books again. Film cameras, journaling, all of it. And every time I see it, I can’t help but think… puzzlers have been doing this the whole time.

Before it was a trend. Before it had a name. Before people were trying to “detox” from their phones. Because if you actually look at the numbers… it makes sense why this shift is happening.

For me, it actually goes even deeper than that.

I grew up without electricity, so my version of “normal” always leaned analogue. Even now, when my job is very online, I naturally gravitate back to slower moments whenever I can. I’ll put on a record instead of streaming music. I’ll reach for a physical book instead of scrolling. And of course—I’ll sit down with a puzzle.

There’s just something different about it. Puzzling forces you to be present in a way that nothing digital really can. You can’t rush it. You can’t multitask it (well… not well, anyway). It asks for your attention, your patience, and a little bit of problem-solving.

However, I wanted to try this "trend". What happens if I disconnect.  I recently leaned into this idea in a bigger way on my way to a puzzle event—I spent three days on a train. I only used my phone to notify family of my location (I was traveling alone), for my camera, and to check my time since I went through several timezones and don't own a watch. Other than that, I went tech free from Washington to Minnesota.

And honestly? It was a little uncomfortable at first. I was excited about the adventure, sure, but I could find myself reaching for my phone.  But then something shifted.

At dinner, instead of everyone sitting quietly on their phones, I found myself actually talking to the people around me. Complete strangers. Full conversations. The kind that just doesn’t really happen when everyone has a screen in front of them. On the train, you are put with fellow travelers. I met someone traveling all the way from Florida who had a random week off from work, a couple who was visiting their first grandbaby, and I even found several fellow puzzlers!

To pass the time, I puzzled, I looked out the window, I slowed down in a way that felt really different from everyday life. It made me realize how automatic it’s become to fill every quiet moment with scrolling—and how much you get back when you don’t.

I know the majority of people who puzzle are not speed puzzlers. They are puzzling for relaxation and  it gives you something really simple but really rare: quiet focus.

Just you, the pieces, and time passing in a way that actually feels good. What’s funny is that now people are trying to find this feeling again—buying tools, setting boundaries, chasing that “offline” life. Meanwhile, puzzlers have been sitting at the table like… yeah, we’ve been here.

It’s not about being anti-technology. I mean, my entire job exists online. But there’s something important about having a space in your life that isn’t. For a lot of people, that’s becoming a new discovery. For puzzlers, it’s just… Tuesday night.

Looking to slow things down?

If you’ve been feeling the pull to step away from screens, puzzling is one of the easiest places to start.

You can browse our full puzzle selection here, or start simple with a 300 piece puzzle if you’re just getting into it.

Want to make it even more of a dedicated space? A puzzle board or sorting trays can help you leave your puzzle out and come back to it whenever you need a break.

Sometimes slowing down doesn’t have to be complicated. It can be as simple as finding the next piece.