There's nothing like the satisfaction of a completed crossword puzzle.
- BYLeigh Kramer - MMD Editor
- INRaving Fans
- 48 Comments | Comment
Webster’s forte (5 letters)
If you’ve talked to me in the past year, chances are good I’ve mentioned my thrice daily crossword puzzle routine. Yes, thrice. I orient my day around crossword puzzles and I’m proud of it. It adds structure to my day and gives me a regular dopamine boost of satisfaction.
As soon as I’ve made Irish breakfast tea, I grab my laptop to check my email and two favorite Discord groups. Then for the real treat: the Washington Post crossword. (Technically their crosswords are syndicated from the LA Times. You have to watch a 15 second ad but they’re free.) Are there some mornings where my eyes have trouble focusing on the grid or my mind moves a bit slow? Sure. But I cannot tell you how much joy it gives me to start off my morning this way. No matter how the rest of the day unfolds, I completed something.
Around lunchtime, I do the free crossword from Vox. After work, I do the Vulture puzzle—I have a New York Magazine subscription for this one. In fact, the Vulture crossword is where this obsession began. I subscribed a few years ago and loved working on the weekly crossword. Then I noticed they had a weekday one but they were almost too short and easy so I rarely did them. Until I thought to myself, “who cares if they’re easy??”
My routine changes slightly on the weekend. Vox and Vulture have puzzles Monday through Sunday, while WaPo is weeklong with not one but three puzzles on Sunday: Daily, Sunday, and Classic. The Saturday and Sunday puzzles are my favorite because they’re longer and offer more of a challenge. But I love the “easier” weekday puzzles for the way they allow me to feel proud and accomplished. It’s the little things in life.
Of course, there are days I oversleep, have lunch plans, or leave my laptop behind on vacation. It always feels strange to miss out on my routine. But it gives me something to look forward to when I get home.
I’m not precious about how I finish a puzzle. I have no compunction about revealing a letter or word once I get stuck. My only goal is to complete it, however it happens. To that end, I ignore the timer completely. If I come across a puzzle in a magazine or newspaper, I’ll fill it out in ink but I’ve come to prefer doing them on my laptop. (No apps on my phone. I don’t like the experience.) There are many people who are probably faster and more knowledgeable than me but this is one arena where I will not compare myself to anyone else—progress for this Enneagram Four. You might be wondering if I ever do the esteemed New York Times puzzle but that only happens if I’m visiting the Bogels. I’m not ready to add a fourth crossword to my day quite yet!
An unexpected benefit of doing crosswords for so many years is the assortment of knowledge I’ve acquired. Random Latin phrases, the names of rivers and obscure animals, pop culture trivia, and the three-letter words puzzle creators adore (kimono sash, med. care provider, Spanish for gold). Then there’s figuring out what the theme means, be it a play on words or an homage to a holiday, sport, or movie. Not to mention cracking the rebus. It’s not just what you know or can call up from the recesses of your brain. There’s a rush in determining the answer based on context clues, reasoning, or wild guesses.
Over time, you get to know the personality of the creators. I love when a clue contains a cheeky aside that encourages you to exercise your civic duty or lets you know how they really feel about a movie or type of food. Recent example: a 3 letter word for “news website that produces the “Today, Explained” podcast (my check’s in the mail, right?).”
Whether the Chicago Tribune newspaper or my grandma’s People magazines, crossword puzzles have long played a role in my life. In college, I had a phase of working my way through crossword puzzle books, doing one after another after another. (Unsurprisingly, this is similar to my approach to working on jigsaw puzzles: once I start, I can’t stop.)
They were a part of my post-work de-stressing routine after a long day of conducting home visits as a hospice social worker. That routine continued through my move to Nashville but my newspaper habit lapsed after another out of state move. I didn’t realize how much I’d missed working on crosswords until my New York Magazine subscription. Now I can’t imagine how I went so many years without this routine.
How do you feel about crossword puzzles? Please nerd out with me in the comments.
P.S.Check out our team’s whole Raving Fans series right here.
Leigh Krameris the Editor and Social Media Manager here at MMD. Her go-to genres are romance, fantasy, and YA. You can follow Leigh on Goodreads.
PrevPrevious14 books about walking and hiking
NextLinks I loveNext
Leave A Comment
Ashley Cavell says:
March 28, 2024 at 9:52 am
I love puzzles. I have a subscription the NYT Games and have a set routine of which games I do in which order. I can usually get them all done in the 10-15 minutes it takes to finish my morning cup of coffee. I’ll sometimes go for the NYT Crossword, but mostly stick to Wordle, Connections, Strands (that’s a new one!), the Mini Crossword, Vertex, and end with Spelling Bee. My grandmother instilled in me my love of puzzles as she truly believes it helps to keep her mind engaged as she ages and I also just love the challenge of all the games. You are also absolutely right in the way it’s taught me so many little pieces of random trivia and information.
Reply
Leigh Kramer - MMD Editor says:
March 28, 2024 at 11:11 am
Your grandmother sounds amazing! I love that.
Reply
Nancy says:
March 28, 2024 at 10:49 pm
I have the same routine—and even the same order. Except for Vertex. I never could get into that one. I share some of my scores with my sister.
Reply
Nichole says:
March 28, 2024 at 10:02 am
I LOVE a good crossword puzzle. I have worked the WSJ puzzle for years, but I still really miss the days when they only published one per week. It was gigantic and HARD, but it gave me such a sense of accomplishment when I finished it with only minimal help from looking up answers. This was obviously back when I had to do it on the actual newspaper. Thanks for the suggestions of a couple more to add.
Reply
Leigh Kramer - MMD Editor says:
March 28, 2024 at 11:12 am
I don’t know if I’ve ever done the WSJ puzzle! I’m glad you can relate to that sense of accomplishment.
Reply
Lisa says:
March 28, 2024 at 10:05 am
I too love crossword puzzles. Another great free source of puzzles are from the creator Brendan Emmett Quigley, on his website of the same name. His puzzles have appeared in the New York Times, LA Times, Washington Post, etc. He drops two new free puzzles a week on his website – a challenging themeless on Mondays and a slightly easier themed puzzle on Thursdays.
Reply
Leigh Kramer - MMD Editor says:
March 28, 2024 at 11:13 am
Ooh, good to know! Thank you for the recommendation.
Reply
Kelli says:
March 28, 2024 at 10:49 am
Oh I love a good crossword! It’s been a joy to have my middle school daughter also complete the NYT mini every day- we compare stats with the leaderboard. It’s been a fun point of connection. We also have one of those daily NYT calendars with the crossword- different family members pencil in answers throughout the day.
Reply
Leigh Kramer - MMD Editor says:
March 28, 2024 at 11:13 am
That sounds like so much fun!
Reply
Caroline Rose says:
March 28, 2024 at 12:06 pm
I’m a use a pen and work across and down sort, putting in answers that may or may not be right. My husband is much more careful, only adding words when he’s certain . He also works a puzzle as words build in each other. The only online puzzle we do is the NYT crossword mini. We text our mini, Wordle, and Connections scores to each other (and I’m always secretly pleased when I’ve solved faster than he does.)
Reply
Leigh Kramer - MMD Editor says:
March 28, 2024 at 2:30 pm
I love hearing about everyone’s crossword process!
Reply
Libby says:
March 28, 2024 at 12:12 pm
I enjoy crosswords but I’m not super great at them, even with an English degree! My grandparents, of the “greatest generation,” always worked the crossword in their daily paper. It was a habit. My grandfather would start it and hand it off to my grandmother. They would pick away at it and did not worry if they didn’t finish it. They were both avid readers as well. I credit my love of reading to them. They both always had a book going. My grandfather was a veteran and farmer and always found time to read.
Reply
Leigh Kramer - MMD Editor says:
March 28, 2024 at 2:30 pm
Your grandparents sound so sweet!
Reply
Janet H says:
March 28, 2024 at 1:16 pm
I can definitely relate to a lot of this. My day isn’t complete without (and usually starts with) Wordle, The NYT mini-crossword and regular crossword and then Spelling Bee, in that order. If my work day is particularly busy, then I purposely won’t start Spelling Bee until I have cleared a lot of my inbox (the torture!), as it is definitely a distraction as once I start, I can’t stop trying to think of more words! I also don’t mind if I can’t finish the main NYT crossword and use the app’s checker to help me get through more of it, I just like the process of trying to do as much as I can.
My word puzzle appreciation must be genetic, as my dad also couldn’t finish a day without the NYT crossword puzzle, which he always proudly did, and finished, with a pen. He’d probably be disappointed at me not minding if I don’t finish, but I know he’d be pleased that I try.
Reply
Leigh Kramer - MMD Editor says:
March 28, 2024 at 2:31 pm
Sounds like a great family legacy!
Reply
Mary Duncklee says:
March 28, 2024 at 1:36 pm
I used to do crossword puzzles all the time – usually in the little books. I now do Sudoku, Wordle, Connections and Twordsy (in that order) on my phone.
I’ll have to try crosswords on my laptop now!Reply
Leigh Kramer - MMD Editor says:
March 28, 2024 at 2:32 pm
If apps work for you, that’s great!
Reply
Molly says:
March 28, 2024 at 3:19 pm
Several years ago, I got into the habit of playing the free NYT daily crossword online when I got bored in grad school classes (oops). I wanted to do them more often so my parents got me a subscription for Christmas. I filled them out whenever I had some extra time on my hands, but during the pandemic I got really into having a streak. I broke it a time or two but now I’m at over 880 days in a row! It’s such a fun and relaxing ritual at the end of the day. You’re so right that you learn so much random info from crosswords! I also love it because it makes me feel connected to my late grandma, who used to fill out the local newspaper crossword (in pen!) everyday.
Reply
Leigh Kramer - MMD Editor says:
March 28, 2024 at 3:27 pm
I am so impressed with your streak!!! Way to go.
Reply
Cindy says:
March 28, 2024 at 5:01 pm
My brothers, sister and I are all puzzlers, like our mom was. She regularly entered a weekly crossword puzzle competition featured in the local newspaper. I don’t think she ever won the prize money but puzzles brought her joy.
Reply
Leigh Kramer - MMD Editor says:
March 29, 2024 at 8:36 am
Love that the local paper had a competition! That’s so cool.
Reply
Rick OBrien says:
March 28, 2024 at 10:38 pm
I too like the Washington Post/ LA Times crossword puzzle. I like pencil and paper. I print a bunch of them off, put them on a clipboard and enjoy. On occasion I do the NYT crossword puzzles too. A good crossword puzzle makes you work a little, but not so much that you get frustrated. It has to be a bit of a challenge or what’s the point. Nice article, thanks
Reply
Leigh Kramer - MMD Editor says:
March 29, 2024 at 8:36 am
“A good crossword puzzle makes you work a little, but not so much that you get frustrated.” That’s it exactly!
Reply
Becky says:
March 29, 2024 at 9:23 am
I also love crosswords, but only complete a little at a time and prefer going through a print medium. Any recommendations on a good crossword book/magazine to purchase?
Reply
Leigh Kramer - MMD Editor says:
March 29, 2024 at 10:21 am
I hope someone else will chime in with a recommendation because I haven’t gotten a crossword book in 20+ years! I think most of them were gifts too.
Reply
Jessica says:
March 29, 2024 at 9:38 am
Crosswords are so nostalgic for me. My Grandpa Sam always worked the two daily puzzles in our local newspaper, The Tulsa World. He taught me how to decipher the clues, how to understand when the answer will be plural, or a specific part of speech. During my late teens/early twenties, when I was driving myself and had a key to his house, I would pop in randomly during the week to raid my Gram’s Dr. Pepper and Little Debbie stash, and I’d always peek at his puzzles and add answer or two as a little hello. The crosswords were where I first noticed the symptoms of his Alzheimers. Little mistakes at first, that I’d erase and fix. Eventually they became such tangled snarls there was no way I could be subtle about my corrections. “They keep makin’ those things harder and harder!” he said. Now, every time I get the newspaper (not often any more) and I fold the puzzle page into the perfect rectangle needed to see the puzzle clearly, I think of him and smile. Your routine sounds delightful! I’ve done crosswords on my laptop before, but pencil on newsprint will always have my heart.
Reply
Leigh Kramer - MMD Editor says:
March 29, 2024 at 10:22 am
Thank you for sharing about your Grandpa Sam, Jessica. He sounds like a great grandfather.
Reply
H says:
March 29, 2024 at 9:49 am
I started doing crossword puzzles with my mother in law when we briefly lived with her a few years ago. My husband and I now work on a NYT Sunday puzzle just before we go to bed, and I do the free Atlantic puzzle almost every day – they get harder as the week goes on.
Reply
Leigh Kramer - MMD Editor says:
March 29, 2024 at 10:22 am
I didn’t know the Atlantic had a free puzzle! That’s awesome.
Reply
Kim says:
March 29, 2024 at 10:14 am
I just learned of a new nonfiction book called ‘The Riddles of the Sphinx: Inheriting the Feminist History of the Crossword Puzzle’ by Anna Shechtman, who is a crossword constructor for The New Yorker. It sounds like an interesting read!
Reply
Leigh Kramer - MMD Editor says:
March 29, 2024 at 10:23 am
Well, that book is going straight to my TBR!
Reply
Anne Marie Vorbach says:
March 29, 2024 at 10:28 am
I really wish that there was a way to do a crossword online and go back and forth with someone else. My daughter and I both love them and do the NYT together when we are together. It would be great to do that across the miles. I am thinking just passing it back and forth, virtually. Like I would do as much as I wanted to or could, then would pass it to her, and so on. Someone should invent this!!
Reply
Leigh Kramer - MMD Editor says:
March 29, 2024 at 11:07 am
That’s a great idea!
Reply
Lisa notes says:
March 29, 2024 at 9:36 pm
I used to love doing crossword puzzles, then I switched over to a major Sudoku addiction. 🙂 I try to never miss the daily online Sudoku puzzles with the NYTimes.
Reply
Leigh Kramer - MMD Editor says:
April 1, 2024 at 8:44 am
I’m in awe of people who can do Sudoku! I am not a numbers person.
Reply
Stacie @SincerelyStacie says:
March 29, 2024 at 10:08 pm
For all your puzzlers, you should definitely check out the book, THE PUZZLER by AJ Jacobs. He researches all kinds of puzzles including crosswords about who creates them, plus the book has all kinds of puzzles to solve as well.
Reply
Leigh Kramer - MMD Editor says:
April 1, 2024 at 8:44 am
I really enjoyed his first couple of books so I’m definitely going to check this out!
Reply
Sue says:
March 30, 2024 at 12:06 am
Crossword puzzles are a part of my family history, too. My dad always did the one in the newspaper everyday. Also in ink. Until the day he died, in his mid-90s.
Have you see the short film entitled “Crossword”? I watched it on Acorn TV. Part of the Short Film Showcase, season 2. Only 13 minutes long, and worth a watch for crossword people.
Reply
Leigh Kramer - MMD Editor says:
April 1, 2024 at 8:46 am
I haven’t seen it but this reminds me that I did watch the documentary Wordplay years ago and thoroughly enjoyed it.
Reply
June says:
March 30, 2024 at 2:12 pm
We do the NYT mini every day with our kids! I love how much random knowledge it adds to our lives (also perfect for homeschooling 😉). Thanks for the tip about the WP puzzle being syndicated and free with an ad – we’re going to give it a try.
Reply
Leigh Kramer - MMD Editor says:
April 1, 2024 at 8:46 am
That’s so fun!
Reply
Mary says:
March 31, 2024 at 9:01 am
I’m not good at crosswords so I don’t do them often, but I do like word games. However, I find that whenever I try to make them part of my routine, they start to feel a bit oppressive — like one more thing on my long to-do list, kwim? I had to quit Wordle because it started to feel more like an obligation than something fun.
It might just be my personality, but if anyone has any tips to avoid falling into this mindset, I’m all ears!
Reply
Leigh Kramer - MMD Editor says:
April 1, 2024 at 8:50 am
You know, this is really interesting because I also have to find the right balance with adding things into my routine without them becoming oppressive. I pay attention to whether it continues to bring me joy and if it doesn’t, then I let it go. It’s okay if it only works for a season.
Reply
Susannah says:
April 1, 2024 at 10:49 am
Oh boy, do I love crossword puzzles! When you said, “[…]I had a phase of working my way through crossword puzzle books, doing one after another after another.”, my soul recognized a kindred spirit. I get on a dangerously addictive crossword kick when on vacations and *cannot stop*. On one trip I took with my family to California wine country, I spent most evenings crazily working through crossword puzzles in my beloved NYT Days of the Week Crossword Puzzles book (hello, Mondays and Tuesdays, we are bffs). I found it hard to read my book when we would all hang out in the evenings because we were prone to chatting, but with crosswords, I could be involved in the conversation every now and then without completely losing the plot, so to speak. I think I did close to 40 puzzles that trip, which qualifies as a lot in my mind because we also spent all day out and about, hiking, and drinking lots of delicious wine! The tiredness (and wine consumption, hehe) was no match, however, for the crossword fervor! 🙂
Reply
Leigh Kramer - MMD Editor says:
April 1, 2024 at 3:20 pm
Truly sounds like the best trip ever!
Reply
Betsy says:
April 4, 2024 at 9:09 am
I also include puzzles as my morning routine. My husband and I both nerd out each morning on NYT puzzles. We love Wordle and the fun word association game, Connections. Of course we also complete the Mini daily. We kinda make the morning a competition. Keeps us sharp!
Reply
Melissa Sudfeldt says:
April 18, 2024 at 2:55 pm
Not crosswords, but word games! Every night I snuggle into bed and do Wordle, Connections, Waffle then Strands. It just comforts my brain and helps me settle. The only drawback is my colleagues do them in the morning so I can’t chat with them about hard/easy they were! But now I’m thinking crosswords might also be fun…
Reply
Kathy Johnson says:
May 17, 2024 at 10:12 am
I’m just now reading this post and the comments, but is it ever too late to join in a discussion about crossword puzzles?! I love them, too, and my favorite used to be the compilations of the LA Times Sunday crossword puzzles (I used to live in SoCal and did the Sunday puzzle every week before we moved to FL). I think I completed every book of puzzles they produced (and I am with you–I don’t hesitate to look at the answers if I got stuck).
I have a suggestion for anyone who wants books of puzzles: Merl Reagle’s Sunday Crosswords: https://www.sundaycrosswords.com/ccpuz/MPuz.php. Very enjoyable, and just the right amount of hard for me…usually!
Reply
Leave a Comment
We appreciate a good conversation in the comments section. Whether we’re talking about books or life, differing opinions can enrich a discussion when they’re offered for the purpose of greater connection and deeper understanding, which we whole-heartedly support. We have begun holding all comments for moderation and manually approving them (learn more). My team and I will not approve comments that are hurtful or intended to shame members of this community, particularly if they are left by first-time commenters. We have zero tolerance for hate speech or bigotry of any kind. Remember that there are real people on the other side of the screen. We’re grateful our community of readers is characterized by kindness, curiosity, and thoughtfulness. Thank you for helping us keep it that way.
