Press Play!

“We are never more fully alive, more completely ourselves, or more deeply engrossed in anything than when we are playing.”  Charles Schaefer, PhD (American psychologist and author, considered by many to be the "Father of Play Therapy")

“What do you do for fun?”  That was the question I was asked this weekend during a July 4th social gathering by someone whom I’d just met.  Not the normally expected “what do you (as in job), which I can answer quite readily.  That was not his interest.  And I found my answer less than satisfactory.  Indeed, I was left wondering if I had forgotten how to play. 

Stuart Brown, MD is a psychiatrist who has devoted his career to understanding the importance of play for healing and health.  In his book “Play: How it Shapes the Brain, Opens the Imagination, and Invigorates the Soul,” Brown writes; “ … in analyzing thousands of case studies that I call play histories, I have found that remembering what play is all about and making it part of our daily lives are probably the most important factors in being a fulfilled human being. The ability to play is critical not only to being happy, but also to sustaining social relationships and being a creative, innovative person.”

Wow!  Being able to play is certainly not “kid’s stuff!”  So this weekend, I made a conscious “effort” to play more, and discovered that there is still plenty of “recess” in me, from the home-make slip and slide, to inflatable bull riding on a lake, to paddleboard ballet with my daughter, to corn hole, to a spontaneous dance party while preparing dinner, to card games and puzzles, I was heartened to know that the past year has not taken the “play” out of me.  

As I did a bit more “play” research last evening, it was apparent that I was not the only adult who has been left feeling a bit “dulled” over the past year.  To that end, I found the ideas on blogger Marelisa Fabrega’s entry “Adults Need Play” to provide some wonderful tips for “pressing play” more often in our lives ( website link ).  Here are some edited highlights: 

·        Set the Goal of Playing More – Intention is an important first step.

·        Decide What Fun Means For You – Make a list of what would be fun to do. 

·        Put Fun In Your Schedule – Who said we had to give up recess as an adult?

·        Create a Play Drawer – Keep some “toys” close at hand, such as a coloring book, some juggle balls, a puzzle, Play-Doh, or LEGOs and pull them out when you need a “work” break.

·        Combine Fun With Other Activities – No reason exercise or preparing dinner can’t be fun! 

·        Have More Fun at Work – Play shouldn’t be absent from a place where you spend a good portion of your life (here are some ideas - Link )

·        Have Play-Dates With Your Significant Other – Don’t fall into a “date-night rut.” 

·        Befriend a Fun Person – Even as adults we need play mates, someone who will ask “Can ___ (insert your name here) come out and play?”

·        Hang Out With a Kid – No better way to be reminded what play looks like than to watch the masters of play. 

While inflatable bull-riding or slip-and-slide may not be your thing, as we begin to emerge from our past year, incorporating regular play into your day will be essential to your “recovery.”  So, this week and in the weeks to come, make an intention to play more often in your life.  Not only will it make you feel more alive, but doing so will likely make you even more effective and fulfilled in your work and allow for it to be sustainable over the long-haul.  In case you needed it, that sure seems to be a good “excuse” for “pressing play” more!