Crossword Puzzles and Mind Puzzles
When solving a crossword puzzle, it helps to prepare yourself before you begin. Try to have a dictionary and thesaurus handy, especially if you are doing the Sunday New York Times puzzle, so that you will not be stymied by obscure words and phrases. Make sure you have a good, sharp No. 2 pencil or two, and an eraser is necessary as well. You will want to be in a well-lighted area, and it is best if you are sitting at a table or desk.
It is a good idea to read over all the clues before you start, so that you have an idea about which clues are easy, and which are going to be a little more difficult to solve. It is also helpful to mark the clues according to difficulty, perhaps making a tick mark on clues you can solve easily, and a different mark on difficult clues you will need to refer to reference material to solve. Be prepared to take a break and rest your mind occasionally, especially if it is one of the larger puzzles common in the Sunday newspaper.
