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A ‘Digital Detox Puzzle Book’ has been released in the wake of reports of major ‘digital overwhelm’ in the UK, with adults reportedly spending more time on screens than during Covid
Take a Break Puzzles has announced the launch of ‘The Essential Digital Detox Puzzle Book’, which has been created to help combat what it calls “the constant deluge of screens and notifications in everyday life.”
Take A Break Puzzles, which is owned by Bauer Media as part of its Puzzles HQ division, has released the book to help readers step away from technology and experience the reported mental health benefits of puzzle-solving.
Offering a guided 30-day challenge, the book also includes colouring and doodling pages aiming to spark creativity and journaling prompts designed for reflection and wellbeing.
The puzzle book has been released amongst reports of serious issues in the UK of ‘digital overwhelm’ and ‘brain rot’ caused by a significant increase in the time that people look at digital screens.
UK adults spent over half an hour longer online each day in 2025 than they did during the Covid-19 pandemic, according to an annual survey by communications services regulator, Ofcom.
According to the survey, in 2025 adults spent an average of four and a half hours a day online.
In response, many adults are reportedly turning to printed and physical media as a way to reduce time looking at screens. According to a study from Ernst and Young, 38% of UK consumers are concerned about having too much screen time and are keen to have a ‘digital detox.’
This has been one the factors attributed to the UK physical book market remaining resilient, despite the rise of digital formats. According to figures from Statista, revenue in the UK physical book market is projected to have reached $2.27bn (£1.79bn) in 2025, with an estimated 33.55 million readers by 2030.
Printed fiction in the UK has seen particular growth – according to stats from The Bookseller in August 2025, print fiction value sales were up 6% year-on-year, reaching £280.4m by midway through the year. Industry experts anticipate that the sector has eclipsed the £600m threshold for the first time by the end of 2025.
Bookstore chain, Waterstones, reported a 5% revenue rise in 2025, which its chief executive officer said was fuelled by an increased interest in fiction by younger readers.
According to Bauer Media, research shows that regular puzzle engagement can improve cognitive function, reduce stress, and provide respite from digital overwhelm that it says “affects millions of consumers daily.”
John Simmonds, a publisher (Puzzles) at Bauer Media, says: “Our Essential Digital Detox Puzzle Book responds to the growing need to step away from technology and find ways to switch off.
“Research consistently shows that puzzles not only reduce stress but also improve cognitive function – equivalent to being ten years younger. They offer a vital and therapeutic respite from digital overwhelm, which affects millions daily, enabling readers to switch off, slow down, and solve.”
