I get about six hours of sleep daily, less than the majority of folks. This means I have 18 hours to fill, which is a lot. Overall, I do a fairly decent job with that, I guess. Some combination of the following occupies me pretty well most days: family life; household chores and duties; social life; volunteer work; reading; listening to music; watching TV; dining out; long walks; pecking away at my computer’s keyboard to produce content for the dodgy publication you’re now staring at. And I’d be remiss not to mention scratching my balls while belting out the melodies of my favorite Gregorian chants. Yes indeed, I love doing that very much. It’s just about my only activity that isn’t on the mild side.
But wait, there’s more! After attending to personal hygiene matters and downing hot coffee, I kick off most every day by tackling one or two sudoku puzzles online, via the Brainbashers website. Man, I’m addicted to sudoku, a logic-based game involving the correct placement of numbers in a grid. I quickly became hooked when, in 2011, I researched and deciphered sudoku’s inner workings. I’ve interacted with thousands of sudoku puzzles since then.
After satisfying my sudoku jones and then eating breakfast, I retrieve the copy of The Philadelphia Inquirer newspaper that has been tossed onto our driveway by my family’s paper-delivery guy. I postpone reading any of its articles and head straight to the crossword puzzle, for sudoku is not the only puzzle genre I’m addicted to. Settled comfortably upon the living room sofa or at the dining room table, I do my best to fill in the crossword’s blank spaces accurately.
All told, I devote an average of roughly 90 minutes daily to puzzles. That’s nearly 8.5% of my waking hours, a significant figure. I’ve often wondered if I should cut back. Addictions, needless to say, can be seriously unhealthy. And so, several weeks ago, at my most recent session with my psychiatrist Dr. R. U. Forereel, I brought up the subject.
“What? You do puzzles for 10 or more hours each week? What in the world is wrong with you, Neil?” Dr. Forereel commented.
“But, sudoku and crossword puzzles relax me. And they help to keep the old brain cells in shape.”
“Old is right, Neil,” my doctor said, after glancing at my chart. “You’re soon to turn 78, I see. Neil, you’re ancient, and should be doing your utmost to live life to its fullest at this point. After all, who knows how many more tomorrows you have left? Stop squandering time on puzzles. Do something exciting instead. Take up rock climbing, for instance. Or Formula One race car driving. I could give many more suggestions. The possibilities are almost endless.”
“Dr. Forereel, are you trying to get me killed?” I asked her. “I’m not a daredevil. I’m not sure what I am, actually, but built-for-thrills sure doesn’t fit my description.”
“Neil, where oh where have I gone wrong? You’ve been my patient for years and years, and yet, despite my strongest efforts to build it up, your self-confidence remains at the meh level. Sometimes I question my efficacy as a physician.”
“Efficacy is such a wonderful word, Dr. Forereel, one I haven’t heard in ages. For that alone, I consider today’s session to be valuable. But, getting back to puzzles, have I truly been on the wrong track by giving substantial amounts of time to them?”
“Of course you have, Neil. Puzzles are frivolous. If I’d wasted time on such nonsense, I’d never have become the respected healer that I am.”
“Doctor, I’ll follow your sage advice. You’ve convinced me that I absolutely need to amp up my life. Nothing I’m involved with right now pushes the envelope.”
“That‘s the spirit, Neil. It seems I’ve underestimated you. Well, the clock on the wall tells me that today’s session has reached its end. Go get ’em, tiger!”
Over the next few days, my vision of how I might better allocate my time began to crystalize. There are so many paths, I realized, that would lead me to becoming a more-daring version of myself. Alas, I’m sorry to report that things have remained unchanged. My gas pedal is stuck. Dr. Forereel will be hugely disappointed.
What can you say? Life’s a bit of a puzzle, isn‘t it?
Yeah, Another Blogger 
Dr. Forereel is the worst doctor on earth! What terrible advice! lol But, of course, you’re smart enough to ignore her.
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Me? Smart? I’m not so sure!
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Ah, Neil. It seems we have a good deal in common. Age is one, as I turn 78 soon too. And, although I enjoy long daily walks, art and writing there is something I’m addicted to and that is PUZZLES! Not sudoku, alas I’m dyslexic with numbers (I know there’s a correct name for this, but sorry, I don’t remember what it is. However, I am pretty good with spelling, reading and writing, and have to do our Code Cracker, crossword, and any word-building puzzled to be found in our daily paper. Forget those mountaineers, abseilers, or free falling people, they are certainly nuts. Thanks for the blog, it makes me feel part of a special cohort!
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Hi. You know, till I started getting comments on this story, I didn’t realize that loads of people are highly into puzzles of one kind or another. Puzzles are where it’s at!
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Dr. Forereel needs to find a new profession..🤣 I’m with you, Neil, puzzles are a great start to the day. From my NYT crossword obsession to my daily Wordle competition with my spouse…it’s a full life! 😂
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You and me and maybe at least a billion other people are puzzle addicts.
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Keep on puzzling, Neil! I may say they’re not for me, although if I get 7 or 8 out of 15 in the Times general knowledge quiz each day, I reckon my few functioning neurons are still firing. And keep listening to music – very good for you too!
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Without music, the world would be much more distressing and perplexing than it already is, that’s for sure.
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I loved reading your post(s). Such fun. I have never tired by hand at puzzling, perhaps I should start. Thanks for this most delightful post.
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Thanks for your kind words. Appreciated.
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Great activities to fill your day. Sudoku relaxes me as well. Have to do a few every day.
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You and me are sudokuholics.
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I do two puzzles every day–NYT’s Connections and Spelling bee. I enjoy both!
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Hi there. Puzzles make our days better!
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I also find working puzzles to be very relaxing, and there’s nothing wrong with that! But I didn’t know there was a way to research sudoku puzzles….
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There are various techniques and procedures that usually are needed to solve difficult sudokus. I researched those techniques and procedures online years ago. Still, there probably are some I never learned.
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I’m going to have to look those up, because I usually get stumped on the ones rated 4 stars, and sometimes even the ones rated 3 stars!
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I would for sure just stay with the puzzles. I’ve never done them, but my husband loves crossword puzzles. Good thing one of us will have a healthy brain.
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Hi. Give crosswords a try. I bet you’d be good at them.
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I have a friend who shares your love of sudokus. She tried to interest me in them, but my brain just doesn’t seem to function in a way that makes them interesting, let alone solvable. I grew up in a crossword-and-Scrabble family, but hadn’t attempted a crossword in decades until I found the free Atlantic online crosswords. There’s a new one every day, and they increase in complexity through the week. For one thing, they include a lot of references to current culture that I’d otherwise know nothing about! I highly recommend them.
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Hi Linda. Thanks for sending the link. I hadn’t known that The Atlantic publishes puzzles. Puzzles are everywhere!
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You forgot to put music in this blog 😪. Question do you ever do puzzles that come in a box? Did you ever do if so do you enjoy?
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Hi Joyce. I used to do jigsaw puzzles when I was a kid. I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t enjoy them anymore.
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Good to know. I got a puzzle as a gift and wanted help. 😜
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Someone should make a Gregorian chant puzzle!
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👍
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I am in AWE of you, Neil. I “love” Sudoku, but I’m ashamed to say I will only do the easy ones–sooooo much work for this brain! But because of you, I am going to try harder to be more consistent doing them. I think it’s a beneficial activity for the brain, but I guess your doctor is encouraging you to work on other beneficial things. I have heard of people who make their living creating puzzles and it makes me drool. As another commenter mentioned, perhaps you would totally enjoy creating other kinds of puzzles connected with you other hobbies! Keep us posted!
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Hi. I get the feeling that the puzzle industry is way bigger than ever. Zillions of online sites have puzzles. Ditto for print publications. So, puzzle creators are being kept busy!
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I’m with you Neil, puzzles are fun! I think she’s just jealous because she has to work while you get to do puzzles!
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I think you’re right about my doctor!
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This is a genuinely funny and wonderfully self-deprecating ramble about the perfectly acceptable addiction to puzzles! The entire exchange with Dr. Forereel—from her deadpan “What in the world is wrong with you, Neil?” to her pushing a 78-year-old patient toward Formula One racing—is comedy gold. It’s completely relatable to have that internal debate about whether a relaxing habit is “squandering time.” Honestly, if 90 minutes of Sudoku and crosswords a day is what keeps the engine running, then keep those brain cells sharp. Besides, the kind of detailed focus needed for that is a testament to your vigor, not your age.
I loved the final line: “Life’s a bit of a puzzle, isn‘t it?” It really sums up the whole delightful dilemma. http://www.melodyjacob.com
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Many thanks. I appreciate your thoughts a lot.
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Good on you for doing puzzles and Sudoku because you want to, Neil. They aren’t always easy. When I used to read newspapers many years ago, the first thing I’d do is look at the crossword section. I loved the weekend newspapers as they had more crosswords, spanning the entire page or two. Crosswords and anything puzzles are cool.
Life is a puzzle and in life, we always find ourselves in a puzzle 😄
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Hi. Being a product of the hippie era. I’m on board with peace, love and understanding. It’s kind of puzzling to me that a high percentage of people aren’t on board with that. Life truly is a puzzle.
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Keep up doing puzzles, Neil. Some might think puzzles are too hard. Each to their own. The fun of puzzles is figuring them out.
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I know the feeling of trying to stay busy throughout the day even though mine is not as long as yours! I typically go from one thing to another and then maybe back again. Aside from working on my photography I do other artwork and sometimes crochet. I think it’s really good to have things to stay busy with, like your Sudoku puzzles.
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Hi, Denise. Right, I think it’s important to try and stay busy with various pursuits. Otherwise, lethargy is likely to set in!
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Life is indeed, puzzling . . .
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One of the main reasons for that, I think, is that there is so much unpredictability in life.
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CB with hammer and rolling pin in hand cn do any puzzle thrown his way. The end product turns up looking like a Dali original.
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You are an artist!
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