Jo Rothermal

A gentle guide to keeping your brain active, without adding stress to your day.

Life is busy. Some days we barely have time to breathe, let alone tackle a puzzle. But building a daily puzzle habit doesn’t have to feel like another item on your to-do list. In fact, the right puzzle ritual can become a small moment of calm, a reset button that sharpens your mind and steadies your mood.

Here’s how to make it stick (and even look forward to it).

Start Small, Like Really Small

A puzzle habit doesn’t begin with a 30-minute challenge. It starts with one minute.

Think of daily puzzles as “brain snacks,” not full meals. A quick warm-up is enough to activate your focus and give you the little confidence boost that keeps you coming back.

Try this: Open the Monday Inkwell puzzle while waiting for your coffee to brew. Solve and celebrate the win.

Stack It Onto Something You Already Do

Habits stick when they piggyback on routines you already have.

• Morning coffee → do a puzzle

• Lunch break → do a puzzle

• Evening wind-down → do a puzzle

Anchoring your solving to an existing moment makes it feel natural—not like extra work.

Make It Delightful

A habit grows when you enjoy it. Set the mood so it feels like a treat. Light a candle. Put on cozy music. Wrap yourself in a blanket. Or keep it simple: a quiet corner, a warm drink, and a fresh puzzle is enough to turn two minutes into a micro-escape.

Keep It Visible

Out of sight, out of mind is real. Make your puzzle easy to access. Pin the daily link to your Home Screen. When the barrier to starting is tiny, your likelihood of sticking with it skyrockets.

Celebrate the Streak (but Don’t Fear Breaking It)

Let your streak motivate you, but never punish you. Miss a day? No problem. Pick up where you left off. A puzzle habit is about progress, not perfection. A gentle mindset makes you more likely to return, not give up.

Try Solving at Different Times Until It Clicks

Some people are morning thinkers. Some are night owls. Some solve best during a quick afternoon reset. Experiment with different times and see when your brain feels the most playful. Your natural rhythm will tell you where the habit belongs.

Turn It Into a Tiny Ritual You Look Forward To

Maybe it’s tapping open the daily puzzle with your favorite mug. Maybe it’s sharing your solve time with someone else. Maybe it’s pausing, breathing, and letting the first star or field pull you in. These little rituals turn solving into something warm, grounding, and personal.

Final Thought: Small Puzzles, Big Payoff

A daily puzzle habit doesn’t demand time, it creates it.