Puzzle it away
What's your name?
Tanya (@puzzleitaway)
Where are you based?
Ukraine
Tell us about what your ordinary day looks like.
I’m a QA engineer. I work from home and spend most of my time in front of the computer screen due to my job. So in my free time I try to spend as much time outside of home as possible… I try to go to the gym 3-4 times a week, and go for a walk almost every evening. That’s why I usually do puzzles at night - there’s not enough hours in a day for all the activities I love.
How did you get into the world of puzzling?
I had few puzzles when I was a kid. I put them together numerous times throughout my childhood, but stopped somewhere around teenage years. But a couple of years ago, I stumbled upon a Star Wars 1000 piece puzzle in a local store and decided to give it a try. I realized that I still enjoy the puzzling process, but there weren’t many puzzles with interesting pictures around- so I didn’t puzzle for a year. Then at the end of 2022, I travelled to Poland and came back with 2 puzzles. I got so excited when I found them, and I realized something an that moment - something shifted in me… so now I’m always on a lookout for my next puzzle.
What makes you keep puzzling & how often do you puzzle?
Being able to focus on one task which has a definitive ending is very calming. It’s one of the few moments in my day when I can let go of anxious thoughts. At least for a while. Recently I’ve been puzzling almost every other night, with occasional week long hiatuses - either after especially complicated puzzles, or when I’m completely out of new puzzles. Right now I’m taking a little break as I just finished 2 complex puzzles back to back. But I don’t think it’ll take me too long before I start the next one.
What is your favorite type of puzzles?
1000 pieces is an optimal size for me. Most of my puzzles have standard pieces, but the few with irregularly shaped ones. Irregular shapes were so fun I might try more in the future. As for the art style, it’s tricky… I love puzzles with pop culture references- e.g. I have a Star Wars one, Witcher, Batman, and Critical Role. I also love puzzles with paintings - one of my favourites that I own is “Nighthawks” by Edward Hopper. I also love an abstract ones with interesting color combinations - e.g. gradients, solid colored, with different shapes, etc.
During puzzling sessions, do you listen to anything or puzzle in silence?
I usually watch YouTube or listen to a podcast. Can’t do anything in silence.
If you were to describe what puzzling means to you, what would it be?
Peace of mind.
Tell us about your other interests & joys.
I love going to the gym, taking photos of nature, and going to concerts. I can’t imagine my life without constantly listening to music. I even have a small collection of vinyls.
Do you have anything you want to share?
“Fun” fact: during the severe hot weather last month, we had a country wide blackouts for a couple weeks. This didn't stop me from puzzling at night - I had a key lamp (connected to a power bank) placed on top of the shelves as my only source of light. But I managed to have fun even in those conditions :)