13 May Learning to Play Again as Adults
Some of us may have been unable to fully embrace play as a child if we had to grow up too fast, but we can reconnect with our inner child and embrace playfulness as an adult. Play can actually be a wonderful use of our time and be very productive. Tapping into our playful, creative, competitive, humorous sides deepens our understanding of ourselves and opens us up to new opportunities for growth we never would have experienced without stepping outside of our comfort zones. Let’s dive into how we all can incorporate play into our daily routines!
Follow Your Impulsive Thoughts
Sometimes our most impulsive ideas are also our best ones. Not the “I wonder what would happen if I did this inadvisable thing” type, but the kind where we say to ourselves, “I would love to go for a walk right now, the weather is nice” or “I am going to go on a mission in search of soft pretzels”. These impulsive thoughts come directly from our inner child who isn’t thinking about the workload on our desk, or the calories in the pretzels. The inner child just follows our bodies signals and intuitions. Simple needs that we too often ignore as adults. When we follow this intuitive call to action, we ignite the spark of playfulness within ourselves and begin to see the benefits of allowing ourselves to play.
Playing to Calm Down Stressful Days
There is a comfort in playing that alleviates stress and lowers our anxiety. When we feel burnout creeping in, we can reconnect with our playful side to refocus and reset. Take just a few minutes each day for a word game, a puzzle, or a bike ride. Just a few minutes a day of doing what we want to do rather than what we’re supposed to do can make a world of a difference.
How We Play as Adults
Re-learning to play doesn’t necessarily mean buying a bunch of Barbie dolls or getting sucked into the world of video games. Play as adults can mean starting a new hobby, or seeking new experiences. Maybe it does mean connecting with our more childish sides, but it could also be joining a local sports team, trying out a painting class, or exploring the world around us in ways we were never able to as children.
Addressing Our Natural Doubts About Play
When we take the time to do childish things, or do adult things with childish enthusiasm, we open ourselves up to the possibility of self-doubt. Reconnecting with our inner child can make us feel validated and excited, but we can also end up feeling silly, or like we’re wasting our time. These negative thoughts need to be acknowledged rather than just swept away or dismissed. When we grow up too fast, we tell ourselves we have to stop playing and get things done, but sometimes we have to stop getting things done for a few minutes and start playing. We can reason with ourselves about mental benefits, exercise, or social activity, but the truth is that playing as an adult can be uncomfortable at first until we practice and learn what makes us the happiest and what just makes us feel silly.
Play in Our Daily Lives
New experiences are fuel for our creative minds and can help us sustainably remain productive and inspired as individuals and professionals. While a sense of playfulness might not be appreciated in every career field, a positive outlook and innovative thinking fueled by playfulness is an asset in any environment. Learning to embrace play means seeking out what brings us joy and feels right in the moment. We feel the most playful when we let go of our inhibitions and intentionally live with a childlike sense of wonder that we can cultivate, revive, and relearn as adults, improving our relationships, work lives, and mental health.
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