What Do You Do … For Play?

“We don’t stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.”  George Bernard Shaw

While I believe that “All work and no play makes Mark a dull boy,” I must confess I don’t put that wisdom into practice often enough.  And my sense is this is the case for many other physicians as well.  Indeed, when I ask colleagues, “What do you do for fun?,” the most common response I get is an initial blank stare, often followed by one of two common responses: “I don’t really do much for fun” or “I used to have fun doing ____.”  If this at all describes you, please read on, because the subject of play is actually quite serious business.      

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!  The practice of playing is certainly not “kid’s stuff!”  As I’ve done further “play” research, it has become apparent that I am not the only adult who has been left feeling a bit “dulled” over the past 2 years.  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.  

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.

  • Have Play-Dates With Your Significant Other or Friends – Don’t fall into a predictable 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.   

As we begin to emerge from the past 2 pandemic years, 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 “come out and 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 playing more!   Time for recess ….

Previous
Previous

The Secret to Last-ing Love

Next
Next

Beyond the “Doctor’s Lounge”: Upgrade 2022