Problem Solving
Play is
Powerful
Play is not just for children, it is important for adults too. The power of play for adults is often underestimated, but engaging in playful activities can provide numerous benefits to business and our mental, emotional, and physical well-being. Here are some ways play can benefit adults:
- Fosters Creativity: Play encourages experimentation, which can lead to new ideas and innovative thinking in work and personal life.
- Boosts Creativity: Play stimulates the imagination and encourages creative thinking, allowing adults to generate new ideas and solutions.
- Reduces Stress: Play provides an outlet for stress and tension, helping adults to relax and unwind.
- Promotes Social Connections: Playful activities bring people together and create opportunities for social interaction, helping build friendships and foster community.
- Improves Cognitive Function: Engaging in games and puzzles can help improve memory, problem-solving skills, and overall cognitive function.
- Increases Productivity: Taking regular breaks to engage in playful activities can actually increase productivity and reduce burnout.
- Boosts Mood: Playful activities are known to release endorphins, the body’s natural mood-boosting chemicals, leading to improved overall mood and well-being.
- Enhances Learning: Play can make learning more engaging and fun, allowing adults to absorb new information more easily.
- Provides Physical Benefits: Playful activities can improve physical health by promoting exercise, coordination, and balance.
In short, play is a powerful tool for adults, providing numerous benefits for mental, emotional, and physical well-being. By incorporating playful activities into daily routines, adults can reap the benefits of play and enhance their overall quality of life.
Types of Adult Play
- Social Play: Go hang out with others, such as playing board games, participating in team sports, or attending a party.
- Physical Play: Get active, like dancing, hiking, or participating in sports, from ping-pong to skydiving.
- Creative Play: Engage your right side of the brain through artistic activities such as drawing, painting, writing, or playing music.
- Imaginative Play: Let your imagination go wild to create stories or scenarios, such as role-playing games or improvisational acting.
- Exploratory Play: Try new things and explore new experiences, such as traveling to new places, trying new foods, or experimenting with new hobbies.
- Sensory Play: You have five senses; how can you utilize them, such as playing with tactile objects, exploring nature, or participating in sensory activities like yoga or meditation.
- Intellectual Play: Engage in activities that stimulate the mind, solving puzzles, playing strategy games, or participating in intellectual debates.
Overall, adult play can take many forms. It’s important to find activities that you enjoy, and that fit your personality and interests. This can clear the mind and help you see things and explore new ideas that can’t be done by doing the same thing repeatedly.
“TEDMD Talk” on Play
At TEDMED 2014, CEO of Playworks Jill Vialet challenges us to release our inner child and remember that play matters.
“Play is our brain’s favorite way of learning.”
Diane Ackerman