January is when puzzle communities worldwide go through a predictable and enjoyable ritual: setting puzzling goals for the new year. Some are ambitious (complete 52 puzzles in 52 weeks — one per week), some are specific (complete my first 5,000-piece puzzle), some are exploratory (try five brands I have never used before), and some are measurable (beat my current 1,000-piece personal best by 20%). All of them share the function of transforming a hobby into something with direction, markers of progress, and the added satisfaction of achievement.
This guide is for puzzlers who want to make 2026 their best puzzle year yet — with goal frameworks, technique development priorities, and the specific actions that will translate January intentions into December achievements.
Three Categories of Puzzle Goals
Volume goals — completing a certain number of puzzles, total piece count, or specific puzzle types across the year. These suit puzzlers motivated by breadth and variety. Examples: complete 24 puzzles in 2026 (two per month); complete 100,000 pieces total; complete a puzzle from every continent’s manufacturers.
Challenge goals — tackling puzzles that represent genuine skill progression. These suit puzzlers motivated by mastery and pushing limits. Examples: complete your first 3,000-piece puzzle; achieve a sub-45-minute 500-piece personal best; complete a Krypt monochromatic puzzle.
Experience goals — broadening how and with whom you puzzle. These suit puzzlers who want the hobby to deliver more than just the solve itself. Examples: join or start a puzzle club; attend a live competitive event; try the flip method for the first time.
The most sustainable annual goal combines at least two categories — volume for consistency, challenge for growth — with a social or experience element for motivation during the inevitable mid-year plateau.
Setting a Personal Best Protocol
If a faster solve time is your goal, establish a personal best baseline before you begin working to improve it. Choose a reference puzzle (same title, same manufacturer — not just the same piece count, since different images vary enormously in difficulty) and time several solves to establish your current average. Then apply specific technique changes one at a time, using the same reference puzzle to measure improvement.
Common technique changes worth measuring in isolation: implementing the two-pass sort; pre-sorting by colour zone before any placement; using a dedicated puzzle light; and — if you have never tried it — the flip method for challenging sections. Our speed puzzling techniques guide walks through each of these in detail with implementation advice.
Exploring New Brands: A Goal Worth Setting
Many puzzlers spend years in the comfortable territory of one or two familiar brands and miss remarkable experiences available elsewhere. A goal of trying five brands you have not used before in 2026 is achievable, affordable, and likely to produce at least one discovery that permanently expands your collection priorities.
Candidates worth including: Anatolian (for distinctive Middle Eastern and Mediterranean imagery you will not find elsewhere); Yanoman (for Japanese photography and design); Liberty Puzzles (for the most distinctive premium wooden puzzle experience available); Nervous System (for algorithmic design); and whichever regional brand is most recommended in the online community you follow most closely.
Tracking Your Year
The most effective goal-setters track their puzzle year in some form. A simple spreadsheet recording puzzle title, manufacturer, piece count, date started, date completed, and a personal rating provides enough data to see patterns, celebrate milestones, and keep yourself accountable. Many dedicated puzzlers share their tracking on social media or in community forums — the accountability effect of public commitment is well-documented in behavioural science.
For more on the world of competitive and organised puzzling — if your 2026 goals include participating in events — our Puzzle Challenges and Competitions section covers everything from local events to the World Jigsaw Puzzle Championship. Whatever your goals for the year, the puzzle community is an outstanding support system for achieving them.
