Why you should make time for play

The word play is often associated with children: playtime, playground, playdate. But adults need play too. It often falls down our priorities list but play is essential for a happier balanced life. Play doesn’t have to be a big time intense activity; it can be something short, a break within your working day. Here’s why play is good for us:

1. Play helps lower cortisol (stress) levels and increases endorphins (happy chemicals); it gives the mind a break from worrying about all its ‘adult’ worries. 

2. Play encourages divergent thinking which fuels creativity. It encourages you to explore new possibilities and problem solve in a fun way. Focusing on a play task can give your mind a rest from thinking about another issue, this rest can end up helping to solve that issue. 

3. Play helps form stronger bonds with others. There’s a reason a work away day will put in some ice breaker games (although spoiler, they don’t all have to be forced fun, cringe games). 

4. Play breaks our minds out of their thinking patterns. Play is a form of mindfulness - we're in the moment and the only thing we can think about is if we will catch the ball (of fire!) or be able to make that jump across a puddle (aka the alligator infested lake) or be found hiding in the laundry cupboard (by the evil witch!)

5. Play is fun! Kids spend hours playing for the sake of play, without needing an outcome or a reason to play except to just play. Ever made a mud pie on a rainy day? What’s the point of that? Fun and enjoyment - and that’s a good enough reason.  

In our play workshops, we play lots of games for the fun of it. There’s often no competitive element, mistakes are celebrated and everyone is bonded together for the pure aim of having fun. You don’t need to come along to a workshop to play, take yourself on a playdate right now. You can head out to a park and see how many times you can keep a ball in the air, or make up a story with a friend each saying one word at a time, or look up at the clouds and see what animals you can make out of them. How are you going to play today?