Montana Winter Hack: Puzzles are a Simple Way to Relax [PHOTOS]

Jigsaw puzzles are perfect for Montana winters. When you don't feel like being active outside, doing a puzzle inside can be one of the most beneficial ways to spend your free time. They can beat boredom on a stormy weekend or be a 10 minute brain teaser than you can work on - whenever.

You're not going to believe how many puzzles my household has tackled this winter. It's sort of out of hand and the season isn't over yet. All of the pictures you see here are of our completed puzzles from just this winter.

All of these puzzles are 500 or 1,000 pieces. Obviously, I gravitate to bright colors and puzzles that have 'pictures within the pictures'. They're easier to work on with someone else that way, I think. (A quick check online will reveal 5,000 to 20,000 piece puzzles. That's a little out of my patience league.)

Our living room table is hardly the World Jigsaw Puzzle Championship (which is held in September), but we have become pretty skilled at putting one together in about 24 hours - and that's with a life and stuff to do. LOL. Not bad in my opinion.

Doing jigsaw puzzles is supposed to be very good for your brain, and overall health. (Not sure how much I believe that last part.) Problem solving, relaxation, breathing improvement, and 'quieting of the brain' are all benefits of doing a puzzle.

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