The Importance of Play in Our Day

Ever wonder why children have so much energy at stuff adults and serious professionals we can sometimes barely drag ourselves home from work and collapse exhausted on the couch?

One of the reasons is the lack of laughter and play in our day as grown-ups. Some studies suggest children laugh 350-450 times per day, while adults laugh10-15 times per day. That's no laughing matter.

To boost our energy, recharge our immune system and pump up our performance, we need to make room for play in our day and create an awareness of promoting playful professionalism. Although we still need to be appropriate, there is certainly some wiggle room to lighten up.

1) Why is play considered taboo to adults?

People are so busy trying to be role models at work as serious professionals and as responsible grown-ups for their kids and as cool adults for their peers. They seem to think being a little silly, having fun, and letting go will somehow diminish their status as a mature person. As kids we couldn't wait to be mature, and as adults we need to re-learn how to play and be more childlike, which is not the same as childish. Children make a game out of everything to make it more enjoyable. They also move from one activity to another to keep their energy up. We call it a short attention span, but kids know they are just moving from one activity which is drawing their attention to another which energizes them.

2) Examples of excuses for not playing more often:

By far - not enough time - adults think of their play as activities which last a few hours to a day (i.e. skiing, picnic, vacation) and they rarely have that much unscheduled, discretionary time. Children tend to think of their play in shorter bursts of a few seconds to an hour or so, such as joking around, jumping on the bed, running through the grass barefoot or playing with soap bubbles while washing dishes. If adults would take smaller chunks of what they love to do and insert those activities into their day, they would feel like the have more time for play. I call these energy inserts- they may take a few minutes such as playing with a Koosh ball while you're on hold, but it energizes you just a bit.

-Not enough money - again - people are thinking in larger terms such as shopping sprees or joining a country club or purchasing expensive sporting goods. Enjoying whatever free time you have can include walks in the rain, stretching in the sun, swimming in a pond, reading, looking or talking and tickling your friends.

-Keep up their image they've worked so hard to achieve as a professional-that they'll back slide a rung or two on the corporate ladder. Adults are more apt to play at home than at work. They are concerned that if they show their lighter side, then they won't be taken seriously at work. My philosophy is to take your fun seriously, yourself lightly and become a playful professional by mixing fun and effectiveness at work.

3) Why is play so important?

Play and leisure time is a state of mind where the participant feels a sense of renewal, relaxation, rejuvenation and refreshment after having been in that state. It is not necessarily the activity itself, but the mindset when doing the activity. As a Certified Leisure Professional with a Degree in Recreation and a Masters in Experiential Education, my entire career has been based on the philosophy that quality of life and job satisfaction make more of a difference than making a living and making a paycheck- that work should be fun and enjoyable.

Play and fun at work increases job satisfaction, which is the number one factor in living a long life. It beat out 788 other factors as a key to longevity according to a Duke University study. Play also increased productivity (contented cows give more milk), reduced turnover, decreased absenteeism by lowering stress and sickness. A staff that plays together, stays together and performs together.

Laughing stimulates the thymus gland, producing more T-cells and lowering your risk of sickness. It exhausts the muscles and lowers stress and tension. My motto is play as hard as you work to help balance your life and increase psychological and physical energy and well-being, reduce stress and tension and help you cope with daily frustrations. When we choose to play, we take control of our time and our energy. When we change our mind, we change our energy. And when we change our energy, we change our life. Adopting a playful attitude will help increase our quality of life.

4) What are some creative ways men and women can bring more play into their daily lives?

Start small by shifting your outlook on situations and visualize a duty as a game- something as simple as semantics. Instead of yard work- how about playing in the garden or digging in the dirt, or housework vs. home care. Even getting a proposal through bureaucracy can be seen as a challenging game with barriers- just figure out how to win.

Incorporate as many energy inserts as you can throughout the day: music, desk toys, photos, Far Side calendars, fresh air, fresh flowers, colored paper clips or some special activity- play with your pet or your child, go rollerblading, or bake cookies and eat the dough. Bring in fresh-baked bread as a treat for co-workers or try hour-flowers ("This bud's for you!").

Check out local recreation and adult centers, visitors centers, or community clubs. Make an investment in yourself to learn a new activity each year such as golf, rockclimbing, chess, programming, hang gliding or a sailplane ride. Visit local sites which you've taken for granted or have an indoor picnic or camp out in your back yard. Surprise your partner with a mysterious dinner or scavenger hunt. Schedule in your play and personal time with professional time on the same daytimer- use color codes to balance life and say no to obligations. Select items from your fun list of all-time favorites and see how you can schedule them into your day. Our energy increases as we plan, prepare and look forward to our reward. If it is written down, it's more likely to happen.

Join an affinity group- bowling league, ski club, cross stitch guild or gardening club. You will tend to let yourself down before you let others down when you are establishing a new habit. The socializing and camaraderie are a great benefit of clubs and leagues.

5) Do men and women play different? And what works best for each?

-Men in teams, competition, pick-up games and groups, go out alone to seek a group and women don't do that as much

-Men seem to be more into spectator sports, but they also participate lots

-Women go with a friend to an organized activity

-Women tend to have more work at home after their "other" job if they work outside the home and feel more responsible, they tend to put off play until their work is done (like they tell their kids)

-Other differences are personality and not gender: team/friend/solo, competitive/social, physical/mental, scheduled/self-directed/free flow

6) What is the best piece of advice on the subject or anything else?

Hellen Keller said, "We don't quit playing because we grow old, we grow old because we quit playing." I have a poster I've had since my college days which says, "Life. Be in it." I believe in taking your fun seriously and playing as hard as you work. All other animals, except humans, have a sole purpose to enjoy life - I think we need to take heed of the other animals and simplify our lives to make room for play, enlightened living, creative spirit and unlimited potential. It's my purpose as Chief Energizing Officer at Funcilitators to encourage, inspire and energize those around me to delight in such discoveries. Adopt a playful professional attitude and when you change your mind, change your energy and change your life.