Why Play is more important than ever: Three ways to add play to your day
“…Play gives us an enthusiasm for life that is irreplaceable… “
Lucia Capocchine
As a kid play was FUN. What my mother wanted us to do often when we were hanging around annoying her was to “run away and play trains”. It was one of her favourite sayings.
I don’t think she meant for us to go and play on the railway line. Sometimes we did! But most of the time, we played outside, on the trampoline, down at the river, in the bush or under the bridge at the end of our street. Always full of imagining and always home for dinner.
As a teenager, I so wanted to be a grownup. To be cool, so playing was not the done thing. Though I would often find myself outside, walking the dog and staring up at the sky imagining my life as I wanted it to be.
As a young adult, I missed playing. Taking on the responsibilities of that adult life I had so looked forward to as a teenager!
Now I realise how important play is in my life. I am making play a part of my days again as much as I can!
In my last blog, I talked about how important it was to close all the tabes in your head. To separate work and play.
Why?
Because after all these years it’s become abundantly clear that PLAY is as important as work every, single day!
Are you still playing?
Do you make time in your day for play?
It really is one of the best things to help with the overwhelm in your life.
If you are saying to yourself, she’s crazy “I have NO TIME to play, there is so much to do.”
Then you really DO need to STOP and PLAY.
Have you heard about the benefits of stopping to meditate or observe your breath for 10 minutes each day? Everyone would benefit from this and if you are a busy person you need to do it for 20 minutes!
It’s the same with play. The busier you are, the more YOU need play in your life.
Having regular time for work and play makes every day useful and pleasant!
Play really is just as important as work and it helps to schedule it in!
You will be more productive and happier if you reserve a little time each and every day to play.
understanding the value of time. Time is precious, you don’t want to waste any of it as you never get it back. Some people see play as a waste of time.
However, play time is not a misuse of your minutes. It's very important for a successful life, however, you define that success.
What is a waste of time is overly worrying, being fearful and agonising over difficult decisions.
Play can help you deal more effectively with these things.
TIP #1
Set aside time to play each and every day. Take your calendar and make some time to play.
What happens when you play?
Playing actually reduces stress, improves life and increases creativity. How good does that sound?
Play gives your mind has a chance to relax.
You never know what great ideas may emerge when you let your mind relax. You need to give those ideas the opportunity to get out!
When you first start to make time to play you may hear these voices:
what are you doing? you’rE wasting time sitting on this swing for 30 minutes
you're too old to play, you have to be responsible, you can't chase the clouds across the sky anymore
the guilt factor - you have too many adult things to do, you can’t waste time splashing in puddles
Stop those mean little voices in your head.
Tell them play is not a waste of time, tell them play is essential.
TIP #2
Think back to your childhood, what made your heart sing?
What was the first thing you wanted to do when you were released from school?
Find that joy and add it to your day.
Life is meant to be more than a series of TO DO tasks on a list
You simply can not be successful without play!
Play is more than a simple activity, it is an approach to action.
Real-life can sometimes be full of pressures that seem overwhelming. Concerns over outcomes can be paralysing. the stress can build without release. Especially when running your own health and wellness business.
You know your clients need to decrease the stress in their lives. Whether you help them directly with stress relief coaching or PT exercise sessions or advice on how to eat better, any health and wellness coach knows that stress and anxiety in their clients need to be addressed.
So if it's happening to you, then you understand you need to deal with it.
YOU need to get some more play into your life
Play is done almost exclusively in the present moment. Like meditation, or breathing techniques. WitH PLAY there are no outcomes to be concerned about. Play is not a test and you can’t mess it up!
How good does that feel?
Play is the extra vitality you must have in your day to bring you up above ordinary!
TIP #3
Play with abandon, do anything you want!
How can you easily make play a part of each and every day?
Start with these three simple things
1/ Schedule play into your calendar. Make a space for it every single day
2/ Do something you love so you look forward to it.
3/ There are no expectations. Remember you simply can’t mess it up
How would you like to create some more time for play in your life?
You can start by planning and organising your online content. My clients have found when working with me that when they have created their own online content framework, the time they need to spend online is decreased and their results increased.
With that extra time, YOU could schedule some playtime!
Book a call with me here to find out how you can create some time to play every single day.
Photo by Alex Guillaume on Unsplash
