A Case for Play
BY DIANNE BLOMBERG, PH.D.Adjunct faculty, teaching Creativity and Innovation at The University of Denver, College of Professional Studies
PLAY isn't just for kids. Society no longer sees adult play as frivolous for many, it's a luxury of leisure. But thc joy of play doesn't have to come with a price tag. No need for expensive toys; just jump in and play.
Adult play different from a child's. It's less about the activity itself and more about engagement and satisfaction. An adult can experience the benefits of play during team snorts like a weekend softball game, or solo on a long bike ride, an afternoon in the garden, or while quietly adding to a stamp collection.
People can make the shift from, I don't have time for play," to "l won't compromise my playtime."
Not sure if play is for you? Let me show you how it can be.
Journal Prompt
As an adult. is Play for you? What steps can you take to make play more of a priority in your life.
DEFINE WHAT PLAY IS FOR YOU.
Most of us define it uniquely. For one person, it’s tap dancing lessons. Another might cook through a new cookbook, play weekly mahjong games, attend open-mic poetry nights, or tinker with a model train set.
WORK ON A PLAYFUL MINDSET.
Begin with an open mind. Embarking on these experiences with a skeptical attitude will cut the value to near nothing. Shift your perspective, find joy in small moments, and allow challenges to feel light.
Ideas for incorporating a playful mindset:
Turn dinner prep into a “clean-out challenge,” using only whatever is in the fridge and pantry
Journal about a moment of play you are hoping to participate in
Go on a group hike or walk around a park, and participate in lighthearted conversation along the way
MAKE PLAY A PRIORITY.
Like dental checkups, play belongs in a priority position on the calendar. Start small, weekly or twice weekly. If that works, expand. Once you shift into a playful mindset, you’ll begin to notice more opportunities for spontaneity. This is when joyful rejuvenation is possible.
Ideas for adding play to your schedule:
Schedule an “inspiration walk” with a friend, taking photos of small details you might usually miss, then share them with each other
Plan a movie night
Spend 5 minutes drawing a daily doodle
INCORPORATE PLAY INTO EVERYDAY LIFE.
Adding play to an over-busy schedule is more successful if paired with something already on the “to-do” list.
Ideas for pairing “to-dos” and play:
Instead of simply walking through the park for exercise, try skipping every few minutes
If reading is a passion, go crazy and write a short story instead
While shopping for clothes, deliberately try on outlandish outfits — not to purchase, just to laugh
If basketball is a passion, carry a basketball and shoes in the trunk of the car, keeping an eye out for a schoolyard pick-up game
Plan a weekend getaway centered around your passion for amateur collecting
It’s just that simple. Life will include fewer should-dos and more get-to-dos.
WHY IT’S WORTH IT.
What’s the benefit-cost ratio of adult play? The transformative power of play offers noticeable benefits.
Emotionally, stress reduction and mood improvement are a byproduct of play
Socially, play reduces loneliness
Cognitively, greater creativity is present, and slower rates of memory loss are indicated
Physically, well-being is improved because endorphins are released during all types of play
When we are open to play, creativity is natural. Adult play encourages divergent thinking and that inspires innovation.
“The creation of something new is not accomplished by the intellect but by the play instinct …” — Carl Jung
If all this information has made a case for play, go take a long walk, bounce a ball, make a collage and … just see where play takes you.
DIANNE BLOMBERG, Ph.D. is an Adjunct Instructor at the University of Denver where, among other classes, she teaches Creativity and Innovation. She is a writer and speaker living in Colorado. Dianne is a multi-published author. Her relationship research is cited in Good Housekeeping, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Family Life, Newsday–New York and more.
