5 Ways to Make Your Life More Playful
With bills to pay and budgets to make, it can be difficult to make time to play as an adult. But, playing isn’t just fun — it’s vital for your well-being.
According to the Kansas Health Care Association, playing relieves stress, improves cognitive function, boosts creativity, and more.
Struggling to find ways to reschedule play into your life? The activities listed below will give you a few places to start.
1. Revisit childhood hobbies.
Go back to the activities you were drawn to as a child. These hobbies reflect your natural interests. They grabbed your attention before you were influenced by outside forces.
Take a trip down memory lane to reintroduce yourself to your hobbies. Ask your parents or childhood friends what they remember about your habits. Take a look at your family photo album.
Whether you were a hopscotch fiend or a master finger painter, try the hobby out one more time. You may be surprised what still inspires you decades later.
2. Seek out laughter.
Poet Lord Byron once said:
“Always laugh when you can. It is cheap medicine.”
Write your own prescription by keeping a collection of things that make you laugh nearby — whether online or IRL.
I always get a kick out of The Office memes, cat videos, and Twitter jokes. I keep a folder on my computer simply entitled “FUNNY STUFF” for all these things and more.
Whether you are into fart jokes or stand up comedians, stash it in your personal collection. Go back to it whenever you need a good laugh.
When you find something new, don’t forget to stash it away for future giggles!
3. Let your mind wander.
Our phones, computers, and televisions are constantly stimulating our brains. It is time to take a break from it all: by freeing your mind.
Let your mind idle without judgment, fear, or expectations. This could be done in a variety of ways, including:
- Going for a walk without any distractions (music, podcasts, etc.)
- Doodling.
- Journaling.
- Daydreaming.
The point is to reduce any outside stimulation and allow your brain to just be. As a child, you probably spent hours playing around within your imagination. Step back into that idle, childlike mindset, and give yourself the time to play — again.
4. Watch children’s TV/movies.
Movies and television shows made for adults can be depressing. Getting away from serious subject matter is a chore.
Children’s TV and movies are typically more light-hearted and fun. (Unless, of course, you are watching a Pixar movie. If you are, then you should probably buy a lifetime supply of Kleenex tissues — you are gonna need it.)
I personally love watching Spongebob Squarepants. It was one of my favorite television shows as a kid, and I still love it just as much as an adult.
He’s reliably light-hearted. I know Spongebob isn’t going to go on a flagrant political rant while flipping burgers at the Krusty Krab.
I also like watching children’s cable TV because its commercials are way more fun. I would much rather watch an advertisement for the latest super soaker than for a life insurance company.
5. Prioritize joy, not progression.
In our productivity-obsessed world, many of us avoid activities we are not good at. We are scared of looking foolish. If you enjoy doing these hobbies, don’t worry about how you progress. Progression is not a prerequisite of having hobbies.
If singing brings you joy but you can’t hold a tune — who cares? Sing until your heart’s content!
Does dancing make you smile but you have got two left feet? Go out there and twerk until your calf muscles hurt!
Don’t deny yourself the joy you deserve because of your own insanely high expectations.
What does your play look like? Which tip did you enjoy the most? I would love to hear your thoughts!
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Nia Simone McLeod is a writer, content creator, and pop culture enthusiast from Richmond, Virginia.
Her website, Love, Nia Simone, features digital deep dives on everything from snooty writing craft books to video games from the 2000s.
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