Happy New Year!
It’s resolution time again… Did you make any?
Did you make a resolution to play every day?
No… Not the kids. You. The grown up. Will you make play a significant part of the new year?
We know it’s hard to set aside time for something that seems so trivial. But it is not trivial. It is not just for kids. Play is ESSENTIAL for everyone. Especially adults on a steady diet of stress, overwhelm, and doom scrolling. That kind of grind can wear you down and steal your joy.
As the saying goes, you can't pour from an empty pitcher.
Here’s the thing you need to know: Play is restorative.
Play recharges your batteries, floods your brain with endorphins, and can improve mental focus and function.
We know. We hear you. Play is so easy for kids. How do we make it easy for ourselves as adults? How do we make it a habit, not another to-do list item?
Step One: Understand what play is.
A definition of play for grownups:
- Any activity where the process/experience is the main point and more important than the end goal.
Hiking, reading a book, or taking the kids to the zoo are all examples of play.
- Any activity where you lose track of time. Where your sole focus is the activity.
Working on a jigsaw puzzle, building a music playlist, or spending time on a hobby are all examples.
- Any activity where you delight in the shared abilities and strengths of the people around you.
Singing in a choir, team sports, cooperative board games with the family, and volunteer work are all examples.
Step Two: Identify what types of play feed you.
Consider the definition and think.
What do you enjoy doing wholeheartedly? What activities grab your attention and energy and leave you feeling joyful?
Step Three: Give those activities some time in your day or week.
So maybe a long hike isn’t do-able every day... But a quick walk in a nearby park once a week? Do it! Take the walk!
Love being absorbed by music, but can’t spend time just sitting and listening to an entire album? Crank up the tunes while you’re making dinner, or folding laundry, or driving in the car. Get the kids to sing along with you. Teach them to play air guitar while they learn how to clean the kitchen.
We firmly believe air guitar AND washing the dishes are valuable life skills.