How to Bring Play Back into Your Life
Is your life dull? Of course, as an adult, we have responsibilities — partners, kids, job and bills. These responsibilities don’t mean you can’t have fun and be playful. Playfulness is fundamental for our mental and physical health.
Play has profound benefits for all ages. Children are curious and learn through play. Continuing to play as an adult can contribute to being a happy and joyful life. Even though our schedules are full, it is essential to set some time aside for leisure. Play can be good for many areas of your life. It speeds up learning, boosts productivity, and increases feelings of contentment. It also helps us build better social connections. Research shows that playful adults can transform everyday situations, even stressful ones, into something enjoyable.
According to research mentioned in an article written by Sami Yenigun, playing helps grown-ups maintain their “social well-being”. He refers to more than just playing board games but also team-building exercises that can help us all connect.
From winning at hide-and-seek during sleepovers to riding bikes around the neighborhood with friends, playing brought the most joy into our lives as kids and still can.
Check out these activities that will bring out your inner child-
Playing in the rain- This may sound silly, but statistics show that doing small childlike activities, even if it is for 5 minutes, can have the same effect as a workout in terms of boosting serotonin!
Dance around your house- Are you bored? Well, instead of resorting to social media, put on some of your favorite music and just dance around with yourself or even a pet.
Get a buddy and go on an adventure- From a casual bike ride to a town you’ve never been to or driving along the beach and checking out little local shops, sometimes getting a new view with no plans can be some of the best times, and can create some of the best memories.
Get a coloring book- Get your colors on! Coloring has been scientifically proven to help adults relax yet still boost creativity and can be a perfect activity lazy rainy day on your couch. So, grab that box of crayons and get busy.
Cloud watching- One of my favorite things to do is go to the park, lay out a blanket, enjoy some snacks with a friend and just watch the clouds go by. Seeing animals and faces in the sky isn’t just for kids!
Have a water balloon fight- If the weather is warm, nothing is more fun than getting many friends together and having a fierce water balloon fight!
Build a sandcastle- Hit the beach, spend time with the children in your life, observing them as they play, listening to their conversation, and following their train of thought. Then dig the sand with them and have a sandcastle competition.
Watch your favorite cartoons- Schedule a self-care day, put on some of your favorite cartoon shows, get some snacks and have a laugh! Binge-watching some toon shows can fill your social tank almost as much as interacting with humans. Are you thinking SpongeBob or Looney Tunes? So am I.
Play empowers people to be adaptable, creative, and free-spirited. Although play is spontaneous, scheduling time for play in your life will make sure you have fun at regular intervals. Try these fun ideas to bring play into your life so that you can present your best self at work and home.
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About the Author
Aesha Tahir is a health and wellness coach and a certified personal trainer. She holds a Master’s degree in Applied Exercise Science and is certified by the NASM as a Personal trainer. She is a certified USA Track and Field Running Coach and Road Runners of America Coach. She is a 200-HR Registered Yoga Teacher. She is also a group exercise instructor specializing in barre, spinning, strength training, boot camp, and yoga classes. She has over five years of experience in the fitness and wellness arena with focused expertise in coaching, corrective exercise and injury prevention, individualized fitness programs, and group fitness programs. She is also an aspiring public speaker in the fitness and wellness world who believes in this quote; “To be inspired is great, but to inspire is incredible.”
