Puzzled by Kate
What's your name?
Kate
Where are you based?
Perth, Australia
Tell us about what your ordinary day looks like.
Since I work part-time, my days off are all about balancing productivity with a little me time. The morning starts with school drop-off, a brisk walk, and errands. Once work is done, I love spending the quiet afternoon hours doing a puzzle. Sometimes I’ll puzzle in the evenings too after the kids are asleep.
How did you get into the world of puzzling?
My interest in puzzling didn’t take off straightaway. The first puzzles I ever bought were for my kids a couple of years ago, purely as a way to keep them busy during the school holidays. Last Christmas I decided to buy some puzzles for myself and that’s when I truly got into puzzling. I started out assembling Ravensburgers but found myself craving more variety in images and piece styles.
Joining Puzzlegram completely opened my eyes to a whole new world of puzzle brands I had never heard of before. Beyond discovering endless unique designs, it also introduced me to a really lovely, welcoming bunch of like-minded puzzlers to connect with daily.
What makes you keep puzzling & how often do you puzzle?
Focusing on a puzzle helps calm my mind and reset my brain especially when I’m feeling stressed and overwhelmed. I love the dopamine boost that comes with completing sections or finishing a puzzle. Discovering beautiful new designs featured on Puzzlegram, or seeing the unique puzzles that fellow puzzlers post, always gets me excited to start puzzling too.
I don’t puzzle consistently though. My frequency fluctuates based on my mood and energy levels rather than a set schedule.
What is your favorite type of puzzle?
I love puzzles that inspire joy and tend to gravitate towards illustrative art styles. My favourite scenes to piece together include cosy, comforting moments of hygge, warm bakeries, cute characters, serene nature views, whimsical bookshops, beautifully styled tablescapes, and vibrant travel destinations.
I prefer 1000 piece puzzles but lately have been mixing it up with 500 piece ones in between. Random-cut pieces are my favourite because the unique, unpredictable shapes add an extra layer of fun.
During puzzling sessions, do you listen to anything or puzzle in silence?
Yes, always music. I usually rotate between slow jazz, chill-out beats, and relaxing piano covers of famous songs.
If you were to describe what puzzling means to you, what would it be?
Happiness.
Tell us about your other interests & joys.
Outside of puzzling I also love reading, baking, watching kdramas and playing Mario Kart on the Nintendo switch with my family.
Do you have anything you want to share?
I’m grateful for all the amazing people I meet on Puzzlegram. I love chatting with puzzlers from all over the world and it’s wonderful to be part of such a kind and supportive community. Thank you Soonness for featuring me on your puzzler blog!
