Unfinished business from the World Jigsaw Puzzle Championship 2024 - Racing the other semifinals!

[@erinwhitelaw6361]

I love listening to you…probably more than I love watching you puzzzle!

[@puzzlewithemilia]

Haha thanks 🤣

[@Lori-lf9gx]

Great video! I think you made a very good point. And everybody is different and reacts differently to their environment - some people study with the tv on or music and some need silence, for example. So, both sides need consideration. Great insight about mindset - has a big impact on what people end up doing.

[@puzzlewithemilia]

That’s a great example. Also what I have learned from other sports is that you can use (what might be considered as) a disadvantage to your advantage. I used to play in mixed/open (read: male) junior team and obviously I wasn’t physically as fit but also that’s why I was left ”unguarded” so often and I totally used that opportunity every damn time to score. 😄

[@Singsnora]

Really interesting conversation. Thanks for going in depth about your thoughts!

[@puzzlewithemilia]

Thanks for the comment. I definitely felt the topic needed more point of views!

[@zacharyhill5052]

Another great video! 🎉🎉

[@puzzlewithemilia]

Yay! Thank you! 😊

[@maddytcam6660]

Question. Do you feel you are faster when speed puzzling standing up at your kitchen counter, or sitting down at a table like World's?

[@puzzlewithemilia]

Great question! A little bit background first. So before August I did almost all puzzles on my kitchen counter because it’s more ergonomic and looks better for filming (I film basically all the puzzles I do). In August I moved to our kitchen table that was taped to match WJPC measures (a bit smaller, 60x80cm). First I failed multiple puzzles and was slower. Side note here, I also stand over my kitchen table and my back is almost in 90 degree postition. After a week I got pretty much adjusted and my times were back to my normal speed. However, because I stand, I cannot do more than three puzzles a day on that table or the back pain will start making me slower again. Now that I have returned to do puzzles on the kitchen counter after the Worlds, I was a bit slower last week (excluding that 95min puzzle from stats because not sure whats up with that) with all the puzzles I did. This week I’m pretty much back to speed on the counter too. At least for me it’s about adjusting to the table conditions. Those who know me from coaching side know that I spent heck lots of time on space management aspect so I believe that helps with the fact that I don’t have too much difference after a while. The back pain use to be the biggest issue but I got it up to three puzzles with some practice. But for example in the Worlds I had to sit down couple times in the final because I have been standing already all day with teams classification and pairs final. Sitting down is the worst for me because I’m not used to that angle of seeing pieces. However, I have also tried out this and seems like I also get used to that angle too in few days (but this was tested with small puzzles only and I think I would not get adjusted to the angle of sitting down causes with bigger puzzles and pieces further - I will test it out again next year). I wish you didn’t have high hopes for a simple yes/no answer. 🤣 That ain’t happening with me.

[@maddytcam6660]

@@puzzlewithemilia I love that you take the time to answer fully!!! And I also love that you are straightforward. Those who call you rude just don't know what they are missing... I like things clear and honest!!! Btw, you and a lot of the younger people stand over your table. I can do it for 1 min max!!! My back just can't take it. Jealous of all of you! I would love to have a better view of the pieces!!!

[@MyPuzzleRoom]

Thanks for the video! I agree. My usual time for new puzzles was around 1:25:00, but at the WJPC, I achieved a personal record and completed the puzzle in 1:06:02! 👍🏻🧩🎊

[@puzzlewithemilia]

Well done, what an amazing time. 💥 I feel like this is even more significant for people who are not super extra fast yet (like sub 40mins). I feel like I have done most of my records during my speed puzzling journey in competitions. And for sure I have also had my biggest failures (or learnings as I like to call them) in competitions too. 😊 Breakthroughs anyway, one way or another!

[@puzzlewithemilia]

Now that I got a Halloween calendar, I need to start looking for a Christmas puzzle calendar. Any recommendations?

[@achild4363]

Hello Emilee

[@achild4363]

I amlooking for a fall winter spring puzzles

[@achild4363]

White mountain puzzle have great holiday puzzles

[@NinaW1n]

There is a Moomin puzzle advent calender! 😃 I am getting it for my birthday in a few weeks (I hope) so I havent seen it yet but from the images it looks supercool! Its from a company 'Martinex', and has 24 small puzzles. Also I bought the Trevell advent calender and the PieceRelax (Pintoo) advent calenders, the Trevell calender has real nice small puzzles, i really like the images of Trevell. PieceRelax has 24 small plastic puzzles but they all different, 3R, magnets, postcards, more a variety. I saw the Pintoo 2023 calender on Donna Louises channel and bought that one too to count of to my birthday in a few weeks.😄 I guess I went a bit overboard with the calenders, personally I like that they all have several smaller puzzles but I saw a lot of advent calenders have one big puzzle that you finnish in 24 days. (But i dont want a puzzle on my table for that long, so i didnt get those.)

[@Sandra_Ahlberg_puzzlesandmeows]

Reverie, Trevell and Pntoo has some gorgeous calenders!

[@moosiemoose501]

Awesome! 😄

[@puzzlewithemilia]

Did you finish the puzzle yet? 😄

[@long-termjournal8055]

😍😍😍😍😍😍😍👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@puzzlewithemilia]

💥🧩🤩

[@SJB-k4r]

I saw those posts saying that people shouldn't compare themselves directly with folks who were at WJPC on those puzzles. And that made me uncomfortable. Nobody should put down the achievement of folks who did well. But the complaints about table size, or fast countdowns, or crowd noise - I didn't understand that. Those things can be annoying but I'm always faster at in-person competitions. It seems like most people are. Including the people who made these complaint posts. 🤷‍♀️ I kind of felt like the posts were unnecessary anyway. So what if someone did a puzzle at home in a time that would've been ##th in a certain round? It's just a number - a data point - and it's not going to be added to WJPC 2024 results lists or knock anyone's ranking down. I wonder what the people who made those posts feel threatened by? It feels a bit gatekeep-y. Like they're trying to shut down people who weren't in Valladolid. (Another reason I was feeling bad vibes there this year.) Anyway, I appreciate you adding a different perspective to the conversation. 👍

[@vg4413]

I was looking at the Swiss nationals this w-e and saw that the best ones were people nobody knows about. Probably people who can't or don't want to afford the time or the money to go to Spain in September. Teachers at school cannot pick their holidays for example. To be in the rankings in Valladolid is nice, and the times achieved by the winners are amazing. Still, it is just a small subset of the puzzle people out there. The smaller subset of people active on social media is also a category in itself. I was there and it was a pleasure to meet like minded people and learn from the fastest.

[@stijn7273]

You described my feelings on those posts almost word for word! People who say "I would have been xth" are the people that either didn't make it to the next round, or didn't even make it to Valladolid at all. They already missed out, why not give them a break and let them enjoy their achievement 🙂

[@puzzlewithemilia]

I do agree with this 100 %. I also understand the nature of social media and what people want to express does not always translate too well in a post. At least for me I have to shortcut and simplify in written IG post/story so I’m thinking maybe the post meant something else than how it translated - because I did feel the same way as you. Made me go ’huh’ for a moment. Probably not that deep though. I just don’t want to the obstacle to be any bigger for people who consider joining competitions (or feeling good about their achievements). I missed the Swiss Nationals 🤯 is there a livestream somewhere?

[@vg4413]

@@puzzlewithemilia no