Featured Article: Why Play Isn't Just For Children
June 14, 2007
“Play is the only way the highest intelligence of humankind can unfold.” –Joseph Chilton Pearce
“It’s better to play than do nothing,” Confucious
Do you remember what it’s like to play with abandon like a 9 year-old child?
I ask you this question because as adults, we’re all in serious need of a major “play” overhaul. Let’s face it – we take life too seriously and forget that playing and having fun is just as important as working hard and being responsible.
You’ve probably heard that children laugh 400 times a day up to 4 years old, while adults laugh 15 or fewer times a day.
According to research, laughter originated in primates before humans and it represents a universal sign of happiness in a playful situation.
Unfortunately, today’s society is more interested in overall productivity and performance and play is perceived as frivolous.
When this belief trickles down to the workplace, it’s not beneficial to the company. One of the common reasons for low productivity at the workplace is due to a dull and non-motivating work atmosphere. Employees get frustrated and don’t work as hard.
This lack of play has also funneled down to children. Children don’t have as much playtime as they’re engaged in numerous extra-curricular activities like organized sports that are too structured to emulate spontaneous play. There’s often incredible pressure in after-school activities. Sadly, we’re becoming a “playless” society.
Play is critical to your happiness and stress level. You should have at least one activity you do regularly just for fun. Hobbies provide a fun way to minimize stress, sharpen skills and demonstrate your creativity. When you get inspired by a fun activity, your brain slows down and goes into a semi-hypnotic state which makes you feel in the “flow” where you lose track of time and feel relaxed. The most creative moments often happen during this time.
If you find a hobby you love and spend time doing it, you may be able to turn your hobby into a career and end up with a lifestyle where work is play. What could be better than this?
With today's stressful lifestyles, it's important to make time to do something fun every day – if only for a few minutes.
Some ideas of things you can do include: gardening, photography, crossword puzzles, drawing, painting, playing an instrument, writing, playing sports, being outdoors, playing with children and playing board games.
Playing is no longer child’s play – in fact children don’t have enough time to play. This should change and you can be the catalyst in changing society’s need to eliminate play. After all, “All work and no play makes Jack (or Jill) a dull boy (or girl).
Lisa Rickwood, BFA, CTACC, is an accomplished visual artist, small business owner and coach and author of Escape The Pace and co-author of Power & Soul. If you're feeling overwhelmed, drowning in too many projects or suffering from techno-stress, Lisa can help. For more information on how you can 'Master Stress for More Success' visit: www.EscapeThePace.com and get Lisa's special report, "5 Critical Actions That Hurt Your Business and Life...and How to Avoid Them."
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The Author: Lisa Rickwood
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