It’s the last Monday of July, but summer is still going (and so are we).
This month, we’ve covered all sorts of ways to increase our en{joy}ment — from the reminder to ditch the hustle, the importance of leaning into the moment as we embrace the day, the practice of micro moments of joy, and by playing hooky.
This week, the focus is all about play — what it is, how we benefit from it, and why we should prioritize it in our lives.
Speaking of play, I’ve got an in-person retreat coming up, and you’re invited!
Join me August 22nd-24th in the woods of Wisconsin for a weekend of playful writing practices to open up to different perspectives and possibilities.
Get away and connect to yourself through nature, rest, creative expression, inspiring practices, and more!
Click the link below for more information or to register:
Without further ado, take a deep breath, release those shoulders from your ears, and settle in for a few mindful minutes around today’s focus.
“We are never more fully alive, more completely ourselves, or more deeply engrossed in anything than when we are playing.”
– Charles Schaefer
When you hear the word play, what comes to mind? Is it children shouting, laughing, or creating an imaginative world? Does it conjure images of your youth? Is there a specific activity or game it brings up? Does it feel like something far-off from your adult life?
Play is critical for development, and children engage in it for learning, socializing, and exploring new ideas. However, play isn’t reserved for kids. It’s beneficial for us all.
Common characteristics of play include (but aren’t limited to):
self-led and motivated
absorbed in the enjoyment of what one is doing
a loss of the sense of time
Play is less about the activity we’re doing and more about the mindset we’re in when we do it.
Think back to when you were a kid. What did you enjoy doing? Were there things that you got so lost in that you experienced a sort of timelessness?
When I was around ten, my neighbor and I would gather around a tape recorder at my dining table. With storylines and songs we made up on the fly, we spent hours creating what were essentially musicals on tape. (Though if my memory serves me correctly, the drama was high—so maybe they were more operatic soap operas - ha!) This same friend and I would gather the onion grass from the yard and pretend to be pioneer women on the prairie—a far cry from living just a stone’s throw from NYC.
Play doesn’t have to purely be imaginative, though most play does incorporate a creative element. My cousin loved building with Legos when we were growing up. He would get lost in building his own worlds while the world kept spinning around him. My friend’s kids have created storylines and worlds around their stuffed animals. Some kids make up interactive games with others.
We don’t have to leave play behind us as we get older. As adults, we can’t opt out of all our responsibilities to play, but we can engage in activities that create a sense of fun, enjoyment, and timelessness. We can still prioritize playfulness in our lives.
Whether it’s pulling out a crafty hobby that we love but haven’t picked up in a while, joining a rec league of a sport we enjoy playing, hosting a game night, getting out yard games to play with the kids, an uninterrupted afternoon of reading, there are plenty of ways we can introduce playfulness back into our lives.
But why? Why the focus on play? The benefits are many, including:
increased joy
stress relief
increased creativity
improvement in relationships (when you have fun together, relationships strengthen!)
greater connection to yourself, as well as the world around you
The world is a heavy place, and we can’t escape the realities and responsibilities that come along with adulthood. Still, we weren’t meant to trudge along until we meet our end. Life is for the living, so let’s throw some practices of play in there! Let’s enjoy ourselves so that we can keep showing up to the serious matters with heart.
Let’s lean into the connection we find in doing things that bring us to a near-meditative state. The things that bring joy, timelessness, creativity, and rest to our souls. Let’s prioritize play in our schedules, and be open to being surprised by how good it feels to prioritize play over productivity—even if only for a few hours each week.
Are there any habits/hobbies/activities that you’re already doing that feel playful?
Block out some time this week for play!
The sky’s the limit on this one. Use it for a creative hobby, a game night, a fun activity with the family, reading, building Legos, going to the lake…
Whatever it is, enjoy yourself!
Join the conversation: What kinds of summer things feel playful to you?