Over the last week, we've been talking about the benefits of play.

Play is essential for children. I also want to call attention to the importance of play for adults.

While play for kids helps them get to know their own bodies, it also helps them learn to socialize with others, plus, as they age, if they learned to play early they are more likely to play as adults.

No one will argue that kids should play. Well, some educators might, as many have removed recess and are starting teach reading and math as early as kindergarten. However, there is no age when play should stop. We should continue to find frivolous moments on a regular basis all the way to the grave.

Emma Sappälä of Stanford University published a Washington Post article and book called The Happiness Track recently that exhorts the benefits of play for adults. She also encourages mindless daydreaming and seems to believe that;

finding happiness and fulfillment may, in fact, be the most productive thing we can do to thrive professionally.

This goes against the 'nose to the grindstone, stay disciplined, and do nothing but work' track that many of us have been taught is the only way to succeed.

 

I never understand when Americans scoff at other countries that have longer vacations, more maternity leave, and national rights to have their time to themselves. I don't want taxes to go up, but anyone who wouldn't like more time to themselves, with their families, to explore and enjoy...well, I just don't relate.

It reminds me of an old adage. A successful person is counseling a less successful person on achievement. The less successful person says, "I want to make a million dollars so I can sit around and do nothing all day." The more successful person says, "You can do that for free."

More work might not be the way to less work. Maybe, somehow, less work is the way to less work. More play is the way to more play. Or, more play is the way to less work.

Start the ball rolling.

Benefits of Play

Helpguide.org offers a very comprehensive article about the benefits of play, and the list is long.

According to their article, play helps to;

  • Relieve stress
  • Improve brain function
  • Stimulate the mind and boost creativity
  • Improve relationships and your connection to others
  • Keep you feeling young and energetic

George Bernard Shaw said, “We don’t stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.”

Any questions?

How many hours per week do you spend in play? I went around our office and asked this question and was very pleased with the results. I expected the numbers from the sales people to be much lower. We are a very successful multi-media cluster, and maybe the fact that our people strike a healthy balance is indicative of why.

So, how much do you play?

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