I recently read an article highlighting the importance of playing well into our adulthood. Some of us see this as a luxury, but it’s just as important for us as adults as it is for children.
We tend to get so focused on work and family commitments that we don’t make time for fun. In the words of Irish playwright George Bernard Shaw, “We don’t stop playing because we grow old, we grow old because we stop playing.”
As you’re preparing for summer vacation, don’t forget to pack your patience and your imagination!
Adult play is a time to forget about work and be social in an unstructured, creative way. The only point to the activity you choose should be to have fun and enjoy yourself.
For greater health benefits, play should involve at least one other person, preferably away from the sensory-overload of electronic devices. This could include playing volleyball with your loved ones or strangers on the beach (after all, they’re just friends you haven’t met yet); playing with your pets; or going on a bike ride with someone without a destination in mind.
You can reap the health benefits throughout life by giving yourself permission to play like you did as a child.
According to Helpguide.org, play can:
Relieve stress. Play is fun and can trigger the release of endorphins, the body’s natural feel-good chemicals. Endorphins promote an overall sense of well-being and can temporarily relieve pain.
Improve brain function. Completing puzzles, playing chess, or pursuing other fun activities that challenge the brain can help prevent memory problems and improve brain function. The social interaction of playing with family and friends can also ward off stress and depression.
Stimulate the mind and boost creativity. Young children often learn best when they are playing- a principle that applies to adults, too. It’s easier to learn a new task if it’s fun and you’re in a relaxed and playful mood. Play can also stimulate your imagination, helping you adapt and problem solve.
Improve relationships and your connections to others. Sharing laughter can foster empathy, compassion, trust and intimacy with others. Play doesn’t have to center around a specific activity; it can also be a state of mind. Developing a playful nature can help you loosen up in stressful situations, break the ice with strangers, make new friends, and form new business relationships.
Keep you feeling young and energetic. Playing can boost your energy and vitality and even improve your resistance to disease, helping you feel your best.
Create opportunities to play all year round:
Host a regular game night with family and friends.
Arrange nights out with work colleagues for bowling, playing pool, or singing karaoke.
Play with a pet. Puppies make very willing playmates.
Keep playful people in your circle. They’ll help you loosen up and are more likely to support your efforts to play and have fun.
Joke with strangers while you wait in the checkout line or in the elevator. It’ll make time pass quicker and you may even develop new friendships.
Here’s hoping you will make more time for play in your life. Methodist Healthcare EAP is staffed with licensed counselors who offer support in a confidential setting, free of charge. Please call 901-683-5658 if you or a member of your household would like to schedule an appointment.
Karole Shorter, LCSW, CEAP
Supervisor
Karole Shorter is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Certified Employee Assistance Professional. She is a member of the Employee Assistance Professional Association and active in the community. She has a bachelor’s degree in social work from Florida A & M University, and master’s degree in social work from Florida State University. Karole has counseled children and adults in outpatient settings for twenty years, and was the social services director for a nursing home in Florida before moving to Memphis with her family in 1999. She joined the EAP staff in 2006, and was promoted to EAP Supervisor in 2019. Karole enjoys spending time with family and friends, reading, and traveling.