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It’s almost accepted that we’re in an era where ‘busy’ is good and the more we ‘do’ the better we’ll be valued. And yet it’s led to burn-out, increasing instances of poor mental health, and heightened stress that has impacted our health.
There’s a practice from our childhoods that as adults we've abandoned quickly, that has the ability to so powerful in creating our health and well-being.
Qualities all children have is their level of playfulness, fun, and spontaneity. Ask any parent of toddlers and they will tell you with certainty that they have had to become more creative and ‘relearn’ how to play.
And perhaps the toddlers are onto something. In Gifts of Imperfection, ‘cultivating play’ is one of Brene Brown’s key guideposts to living a wholehearted life. That is, for living a successful, happy and healthy life.
Brene says that if we want that kind of life we have to “become intentional about cultivating sleep and play, and about letting go of exhaustion as a status symbol”.
She refers to psychiatrist, clinical researcher and founder of the National Institute for Play, Dr. Stuart Brown’s work in this area. He says that, "Play helps us deal with difficulties, provides a sense of expansiveness, promotes mastery of our craft, and is an essential part of the creative process. Most important, true play that comes from our own inner needs and desires is the only path to finding lasting joy and satisfaction in our work. In the long run, work does not work without play."
And there are other studies that support this principle. Some even showing that adults who are more playful have lower levels of stress.
Both Brene Brown and Dr. Stuart Brown agree that play is a basic human need and as essential to our health and well-being as rest.
So, how does the average busy, stressed out professional start to engage in more play?
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