“We don’t stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.” – George Bernard Shaw
When was the last time you ran around the house with your kids, played Frisbee with your dog or splashed in a puddle after a rainfall? If you are like most adults, then it has probably been years since you did anything that resembles playing. Our hectic lives make it difficult to even entertain the thought of playing. All our focus is heavily oriented towards work and family commitments. And on the rare occasion that we are able to spare some time for leisure, we are more likely to spend it watching movies on Netflix, than engaging in playful activities like we did when we were kids. And that is exactly what the problem is – when we think of the word “play”, we immediately think of children. But what if playing was equally important in adulthood?
1. Play helps relieve stress
It does not seem like there is a shortage of reasons for us to be stressed every single day. While there are always stressors in our life that will result in stress, it is important for us to find activities to relieve some of this stress – one of these activities is playing. So, why is playing so effective in relieving stress? Running around playing tag, for example, will help release “feel-good hormones” called endorphins; they promote a sense of well-being and is even known to temporarily relieve pain. Besides causing the release of endorphins, playing is generally a fun and enjoyable activity that causes us to loosen up rigid mindsets.
2. Play improves relationships with other
Who knew playing could help us improve our relationships with other people and even help us make new friends? That probably explains why it is so easy for kids to make new friends. Playing with family members, friends and even co-workers can help us form tighter bonds with each other. Playing can also tighten the bond in romantic relationships because it can bring joy, affection, fun and vitality. Playing in groups also helps promote cooperation – remember this the next time you think about organizing a social event with your colleagues. Being a little playful can also help you be less nervous in stressful situations, such as breaking the ice when meeting a stranger.
3. Play boosts creativity
You would be surprised how creative you could become when you get back to doing things just for the fun of it. Just for amusement, without worrying about looking silly, or contemplating if you are doing something the right way. Think about children turning pieces of paper into aeroplanes or race cars. At that moment, they don’t see it as paper anymore. All they care about is seeing who has the fastest aeroplane. Just imagine if you could occasionally tap into the power of play, and stop being so rational and analytical – just letting your mind wander and enjoying the moment. After doing this for a while, you will realize that you have come up with more ideas; you have become more creative. These are some valuable lessons learned in life.
4. Play boosts productivity at work
Success at work mainly depends on our level of efficiency and productivity. And being efficient and productive mean doing as much quality work as possible during the shortest amount of time – and both are highly dependent on our well-being. All three benefits of play mentioned previously positively affect our well-being. Playing is one of the best ways to replenish ourselves, which can end up having a positive impact on our career. Whenever you have a difficult project to manage, instead of worrying about it all day long, just take a few minutes or hours to play and have fun. Allow your mind to wander. This can help you see the problem from a different perspective and come up with new and creative solutions.
We need to occasionally switch on our “play” mindset, and silence that “inner editor” that forces us to do what is perceived as rational. There are so many psychological benefits we can enjoy from having a play mentality. It’s about time we got back to the metaphoric playground and have some fun! This is one of the most valuable lessons learned in life.
22 Comments
Adaego M. Azi · September 29, 2020 at 9:17 pm
duppydomTEAM – I so agree with this article. I don’t think being an adult should mean having a static frame of mind. Adults can play too. My boyfriend and I play and goof around all the time. It makes the relationship more fun. It also shows me that he might be a playful dad with his kids (not saying we are getting married or anything) 😍
duppydomTEAM · October 12, 2020 at 1:56 am
Adaego, we appreciate your comments. Completely agree. Adulthood does not mean having inert mindsets. If anything, one thing adulthood should teach us is that we need flexible mindsets to be successful in life – and that should include a playful mindset. Playful adults do indeed have better relationships. There is nothing worse than being in a relationship where one person takes himself/herself too seriously 😬
Adaego M. Azi · October 13, 2020 at 3:15 pm
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Amara Kone · September 29, 2020 at 10:59 pm
I did see a Youtube video about this very thing. As soon as we become adults, we no longer believe in things that gave us joy when we were young. I don’t see why not. I also think it’s a different kind of play when we are older. I agree that play can reduce stress.
duppydomTEAM · October 12, 2020 at 1:55 am
Amara, thank you very much for your comments. This topic has become very popular over the last ten years, and there are numerous books, academic journal articles, business articles, and videos dedicated to the topic. When we become adults, we don’t necessarily have to engage in the same things that gave us joy as children, but the expression of joy is the same. If we carry that “play” mentality with us into adulthood, it means we will also be looking for age appropriate ways to express it 🧗♀🏌️♂🚴♂🎭🍽💃🧗♀🕺🏎✈🌎
Adaego M. Azi · October 13, 2020 at 3:16 pm
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Nadine Wu · September 30, 2020 at 2:07 am
duppydom TEAM – I got a kick out of reading this. Just imagining my dad playing – it’s not gonna happen. I think people like my dad think that becoming an adult means behaving like an adult. When I go home to visit my parents, I have to act a certain way, or I get the stare down. I’m different though, I think being playful is great at any age; it shows that you are still enjoying life.
duppydomTEAM · October 12, 2020 at 1:54 am
Nadine – we appreciate your comments. Having a “play” mindset as an adult is somewhat generational. Your parents and grandparents grew up with the “protestant work ethic”, which did not include the notion of play. So, it might be up to you to teach him that even when you are an adult, you can still play and have fun. Take your parents dancing one night – you never know, your dad might pull out some old school dance moves on you 🕺🎶🎶
Adaego M. Azi · October 13, 2020 at 3:17 pm
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Bruce Peters · September 30, 2020 at 3:53 am
I’m of the same mindset. This idea of adult “play” is gaining traction. I am seeing it more and more in business magazines. The third and fourth point in the article make sense. Although most of our company is working from home right now, I have wondered if and how we could introduce play at the office. I enjoyed reading this. Thank you.
duppydomTEAM · October 12, 2020 at 1:54 am
Bruce, thank you for sharing your comments. Agreed. “Play” in the workforce has been gaining momentum. Of course, here, “play” does not mean having a swing set in the Office 😀 It means using “play” to help the creativity flow; which can mean reduced absenteeism and turnover, and increased productivity. As an example, employees at Google’s headquarters have access to the Googleplex, where they are encouraged to play and entertain themselves during the entire workday.
Adaego M. Azi · October 13, 2020 at 3:17 pm
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S. Jakes · October 1, 2020 at 11:58 pm
duppydomTEAM – this is a very interesting topic. Before we started quarantining, I saw school kids playing all day. I love watching kids play – it’s almost like a passion project for them and they can get very serious about keeping score and others not cheating. This part of child’s play is very adult like. So, telling me that adults should have a play mindset is almost funny to me. It never occurred to me. DuppydomTEAM, thank you very much 👏
duppydomTEAM · October 12, 2020 at 1:52 am
S. Jakes – thank you. Indeed, the idea of adults having a play mindset can seem odd. If you see kids play all day, then you know that play helps kids learn about socialization and boundaries, and helps them develop language, reasoning, and problem-solving skills. The same logic can be extended to adults; play helps adults develop reasoning, problem-solving, creativity, brainstorming, engagement, and teamwork skills 💯
Adaego M. Azi · October 13, 2020 at 3:18 pm
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Adaego M. Azi · October 13, 2020 at 3:18 pm
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Lisa Steffler · October 3, 2020 at 9:37 pm
To his credit, my husband is very playful. Sometimes he teases me and calls me a stick-in-the-mud. Although, I do think that play can improve relationships. Even though I am not always up for my husband’s antics, when he tries, it does make me laugh – particularly when he corrals the kids to participate in his pranks and tickles me relentlessly. After all these years of teasing me I think I am coming around. God bless.
duppydomTEAM · October 12, 2020 at 1:52 am
Thank you, Lisa. Play CAN improve relationships. And as in your case, if one partner is not accustomed to play, the other partner can instigate play behaviors. You say that your husband teases you, which leads to laughter – that is exactly what the goal of play should be – amusement and entertaining yourselves 😂🤣😅
Adaego M. Azi · October 13, 2020 at 3:19 pm
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Amie Warwick · October 4, 2020 at 5:33 pm
Hi, duppydom – I think it’s good for adults to have a play mindset, but how willing you are to play as an adult depends on how young you are. Young adults are still used to playing around and having fun. I also think adult play is not play in the traditional sense, it’s really the idea of having a playful attitude and not taking yourself too seriously. I say this when I think about me and my husband.
duppydomTEAM · October 12, 2020 at 1:52 am
Amie – your comments are greatly appreciated. Yes, you are correct. Adults who have a play mindset don’t take themselves too seriously, and that attitude translates to playful personal relationships 😜 Play in a relationship also means being able to laugh at yourself. Agreed, your want or need to play as an adult could depend on your age.
Adaego M. Azi · October 13, 2020 at 3:19 pm
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