Playfulness—Not Just for Kids

Only a fraction of our lives is spent in the joyful abandon of play—with a little practice we can welcome it back.As the parent of four young children, I have the unique pleasure of being surrounded by people who spend the vast majority of their wakeful hours playing.My simple observation is that playing looks like a lot of fun and that it would be a shame if we compressed it all into the first 10 years of our lives.Adults should play, too.A 2019 study in the Journal of Social and Personal Relationships demonstrated that play isn’t just good fun—it’s good for you. Daily play improves mood and helps us cope with the ordinary stressors of life, especially when done with a friend.If you’re the kind of person who takes life seriously or ends the day with tension in your muscles, adding play to your life could be a real and positive change.It doesn’t have to be complicated.Related StoriesBeing too intentional with your play could strip the fun away and leave you with just another item on your to-do list. Don’t get me wrong, any new habit takes a bit of effort, but one of the keys to play is to release your inhibitions and tap into the impulsive, improvisational side of yourself.6 Ways to Add Play Back Into Your LifeThe list I’m about to share is a mix of ways to simply add more fun into your life—and make the things you normally do more playful. It’s quite personal to me, but I’m hoping it inspires you to think along new lines.I could easily make a list that only consists of fun hobbies and say “Go do more of these things,” but in adult life, there are countless things to get done—so learning to do these activities with a spirit of playfulness is a great skill to develop.1. Adopt an Attitude of Exploration and ExperimentationMore than anything, play is a mindset. It’s one driven by curiosity and interest—trumping the desire to be productive or develop yourself. A good first step is to learn to recognize when something draws your interest and make space to follow that impulse as far as it will go. Perk up when you hear someone talk about something interesting and seek out more about it.2. Spice Up Your Day With Spontaneous ExerciseWho says the only way to be healthy is to schedule a workout and grind it out? My regular fitness routine consists of a long daily walk, which I love, and sets of pushups sprinkled in throughout the day—wherever I feel inspired. Sometimes, I’ll even finish my walk with a few minutes of running with no other goal than the enjoyment of moving faster.3. Challenge Your Task EfficiencyGamification is the act of adding rules and structure to normal activities so that they feel more like playing a game. Sometimes, I’ll set a timer and try to reply to every email in my inbox during that time. Or I'll set a timer and see if I can clean the whole kitchen before it goes off. Adding a small element of challenge to an activity keeps it from being mundane.4. Wait for It Kids love doing “work-like” tasks when it’s their idea. I see it all the time with my children—they will get the idea to clean up a room, organize a closet, or surprise their parents by doing a chore. But ask these kids to do those tasks and it’s like pulling teeth to get them to follow through.It’s possible to tap into this effect of acting on ideas as an adult by not over-structuring your day. Making a long list can suddenly feel like too much work. Instead, wait for the inspiration to hit, then jump right in and make progress on whatever looks interesting at that moment.5. Theme a Dinner PartyYou don’t always have to leave the house for a great evening with your spouse or friends. Instead, choose a country and then make a meal and pick a movie that originates in or connects to that place. It’s a playful way to learn about world cultures while adding a slice of novelty to your life.6. Have a Research NightMy wife and I love looking for fun and unique things to do with our evening hours as an alternative to sitting in front of the TV. One favorite is to do “research nights” together. This involves choosing a topic or question, researching it for a set period, and then sharing what we’ve learned. It’s kind of nerdy but often leads to a fun conversation.

Playfulness—Not Just for Kids

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Only a fraction of our lives is spent in the joyful abandon of play—with a little practice we can welcome it back.

As the parent of four young children, I have the unique pleasure of being surrounded by people who spend the vast majority of their wakeful hours playing.

My simple observation is that playing looks like a lot of fun and that it would be a shame if we compressed it all into the first 10 years of our lives.

Adults should play, too.

A 2019 study in the Journal of Social and Personal Relationships demonstrated that play isn’t just good fun—it’s good for you. Daily play improves mood and helps us cope with the ordinary stressors of life, especially when done with a friend.

If you’re the kind of person who takes life seriously or ends the day with tension in your muscles, adding play to your life could be a real and positive change.

It doesn’t have to be complicated.

Being too intentional with your play could strip the fun away and leave you with just another item on your to-do list. Don’t get me wrong, any new habit takes a bit of effort, but one of the keys to play is to release your inhibitions and tap into the impulsive, improvisational side of yourself.
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6 Ways to Add Play Back Into Your Life

The list I’m about to share is a mix of ways to simply add more fun into your life—and make the things you normally do more playful. It’s quite personal to me, but I’m hoping it inspires you to think along new lines.

I could easily make a list that only consists of fun hobbies and say “Go do more of these things,” but in adult life, there are countless things to get done—so learning to do these activities with a spirit of playfulness is a great skill to develop.

1. Adopt an Attitude of Exploration and Experimentation

More than anything, play is a mindset. It’s one driven by curiosity and interest—trumping the desire to be productive or develop yourself. A good first step is to learn to recognize when something draws your interest and make space to follow that impulse as far as it will go. Perk up when you hear someone talk about something interesting and seek out more about it.

2. Spice Up Your Day With Spontaneous Exercise

Who says the only way to be healthy is to schedule a workout and grind it out? My regular fitness routine consists of a long daily walk, which I love, and sets of pushups sprinkled in throughout the day—wherever I feel inspired. Sometimes, I’ll even finish my walk with a few minutes of running with no other goal than the enjoyment of moving faster.

3. Challenge Your Task Efficiency

Gamification is the act of adding rules and structure to normal activities so that they feel more like playing a game. Sometimes, I’ll set a timer and try to reply to every email in my inbox during that time. Or I'll set a timer and see if I can clean the whole kitchen before it goes off. Adding a small element of challenge to an activity keeps it from being mundane.

4. Wait for It 

Kids love doing “work-like” tasks when it’s their idea. I see it all the time with my children—they will get the idea to clean up a room, organize a closet, or surprise their parents by doing a chore. But ask these kids to do those tasks and it’s like pulling teeth to get them to follow through.
It’s possible to tap into this effect of acting on ideas as an adult by not over-structuring your day. Making a long list can suddenly feel like too much work. Instead, wait for the inspiration to hit, then jump right in and make progress on whatever looks interesting at that moment.

5. Theme a Dinner Party

You don’t always have to leave the house for a great evening with your spouse or friends. Instead, choose a country and then make a meal and pick a movie that originates in or connects to that place. It’s a playful way to learn about world cultures while adding a slice of novelty to your life.

6. Have a Research Night

My wife and I love looking for fun and unique things to do with our evening hours as an alternative to sitting in front of the TV. One favorite is to do “research nights” together. This involves choosing a topic or question, researching it for a set period, and then sharing what we’ve learned. It’s kind of nerdy but often leads to a fun conversation.
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