January 29 - National Puzzle Day

Happy National Puzzle Day! Each year on January 29th, today recognizes how exercising our brains with puzzles is just one of its many benefits.

Whether it’s a crossword, jigsaw, trivia, word searches, brain teasers or Sudoku, puzzles put our minds to work. Studies have found that when we work on a jigsaw puzzle, we use both sides of the brain. And spending time daily working on puzzles improves memory, cognitive function, and problem-solving skills.

Click play and enjoy a story about National Puzzle Day featuring our founder, Marlo Anderson.  If you enjoy the two-minute show, subscribe with your favorite podcast player.

https://thenationaldailyshow.com/jan-29-national-puzzle-day-and-national-corn-chip-day/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=jan-29-national-puzzle-day-and-national-corn-chip-day

Word searches and crossword puzzles have the obvious benefit of increasing vocabulary and language skills. Sudoku, a puzzle sequencing a set of numbers on a grid, exercises the brain as well. By testing memory and logical thinking, this puzzle stimulates the brain and can improve number skills.

Puzzles also offer social benefits. When we work on these brain teasers with someone, we improve our social interactions.  

Whether we join a group or play with our children, those interactions keep us socially active and teach our children social skills, too. Even working them quietly together provides an opportunity to focus the mind in a meditative way that isn’t forced. 

The bottom line is, puzzles stimulate the brain, keeping it active, and practicing its skills.

HOW TO OBSERVE

Spend time putting together a jigsaw puzzle with a friend, or grab a cup of coffee and complete a Sudoku or crossword puzzle.  Use #NationalPuzzleDay to post on social media.

Visit the National Day Calendar Classroom for numerous puzzles that celebrate the days.

HISTORY

In 2002, American writer, author, influencer and literacy speaker Jodi Jill created National Puzzle Day as a way to share her enjoyment of puzzles. 

Also a syndicated newspaper puzzle maker and professional quiz maker, Jill developed classroom lesson plans especially for the observance and the popularity has grown year after year. 

What kind of puzzles do you like to do? 

#NationalPuzzleDay 

@jodijill 

@nichecinema 

January 29 - Ernst Lubitsch

Happy Birthday, Ernst Lubitsch! Born today in 1892, this German-American actor, writer, producer and film director's urbane comedies of manners gave him the reputation of being Hollywood's most elegant and sophisticated director; as his prestige grew, his films were promoted as having "the Lubitsch touch". Lubitsch had been active from 1913–47. 

#borntodirect 

@Criterion 

@tcm 

January 28 - National Blueberry Pancake Day

Happy National Blueberry Pancake Day! On January 28th, today brinks the sweetness of blueberries to your pancake, flapjack or hotcake. 

The early pancakes consisted mostly of flour and milk and were more like biscuits. Later, eggs, milk, a leavening agent (such as baking powder) and fat were added creating the fluffier, lighter pancake we know today. 

Adding blueberries to the pancake batter when mixing up the ingredients may result in a bluish hue. To avoid this, add them right after dropping dollops of batter to the hot griddle. 

Blueberries add a freshness to pancakes and nutrients like vitamin C, vitamin K, manganese and copper. 

HOW TO OBSERVE

Whip up some pancakes with this recipe: Todd’s Famous Blueberry Pancakes 

https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/20177/todds-famous-blueberry-pancakes/?event8=1&prop24=SR_Title&e11=blueberry%20pancake&e8=Quick%20Search&event10=1&e7=Recipe&soid=sr_results_p1i6 

Use #BlueberryPancakeDay to post on social media. 

HISTORY 

As National Day Calendar® continues their search for the origins of this breakfast food holiday, another stack or two will hold you over. Add some real maple syrup and fresh blueberries, too.  

While you’re having seconds, be sure to include a dollop of real whipped cream. None of the fake stuff. Origin stories take time. Pancakes are forever. 

#BlueberryPancakeDay 

@IHOP 

@nichecinema 

  

January 28 - National Have Fun At Work Day

Happy National Have Fun At Work Day! On January 28th, fight the workday doldrums! National Day Calendar® makes it so easy to do when everyone around the workplace has a birthday for one example. Just head over to Search here! by visiting the website below and enter any date for the current week (January 28 for example) to discover National Days to celebrate at work.

https://nationaldaycalendar.com/birthday/

Click play and enjoy a story about National Fun At Work Day featuring our founder, Marlo Anderson.  If you enjoy the two-minute show, subscribe with your favorite podcast player.

https://thenationaldailyshow.com/january-28-2020-have-fun-at-work-day-and-kazoo-day-on-the-national-day-calendar/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=january-28-2020-have-fun-at-work-day-and-kazoo-day-on-the-national-day-calendar

Many people spend a good portion of their lives at work, so why should they not try to enjoy it? While looking to find fun things to do at work, let your imagination be the leader. 

Make sure to obtain your boss’s approval for whatever fun and exciting things you choose to do. Better yet, get your boss involved in the fun!

American authors Dave Hemseth and Leslie Yerkes, co-authors of the 1997 book "301 Ways to Have Fun at Work" say, “Organizations that integrate fun into work have lower levels of absenteeism, greater job satisfaction, increased productivity, and less downtime.” 

HOW TO OBSERVE

Plan ahead and get the fun going. We supply a few ideas to make the day worth celebrating.

• • Host a boss look-alike contest. 
• • Organize a chili cook-off. 
• • Go office to office singing random songs. 
• • Create a healthy potluck with a variety of fruits and veggies. 
• • Set up a corn hole game in the break room or in any appropriate space. 
• • Celebrate the National Days with National Day Calendar® 

Use #FunAtWorkDay to post on social media. 

HISTORY 

National Day Calendar® continues researching the origins of this fun workday holiday. 

#FunAtWorkDay 

@nichecinema