I have some great news! You actually don’t ever have to stop playing!
The act of play in adults has been shown to release endorphins, stimulate creativity and improve brain functionality. So why would we want to stop?
When you think of play, what comes to mind? Are you taken back to playing barbies with your sister? Or jumping on the trampoline (or is that just me? Lol).
Don’t get caught up in what you think play is. Play as an adult looks different for everyone. We all find joy in different tasks. Being Magazine in Issue Seven states that play as a concept is like meditation. It is a state of openness, connectedness and complete presence in the moment. It is something we do for the experience and not the outcome.
In a world where we are constantly caught up in an end product, how liberating is it to hear that this is something we do, purely because it brings us joy (and is therefore good for our wellness); not to be able to hand someone something and say ‘This is done’. Play is for us, not for external validation.
In the following slides I have provided information, inspired by the article by Being, which builds on their nuggets of wisdom by including ideas on how you can bring your play archetype into your working life as well as adapt to lockdown restrictions (should this apply to you).
What play archetype are you? What other ideas would you add?
#Wellness #ThrivingLife #Joy #StressManagement #BeingYou #CelebrateYou
Image One:
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‘Play is not just for children. We all benefit from play.’
Image Two:
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‘The Joker
The 'class clown', enjoys nonsensical play
Childhood Games
Goofy talk and behaviour, silly faces, jokes and practical jokes
Adult Possibilities
Try stand-up comedy or improv classes, spend time with your friends in social interactions where you can feel safe to be silly and free
Work Incorporation
Send a daily joke email to colleagues. Collate information on local comedy clubs and be the organiser of team outings. Be the go to for epic meeting ice-breakers
Lockdown Options
Select a Stand-Up comedy episode on Netflix and organise a viewing party with friends. Sign up for a 'How to Write Comedy' Short Course with friends and commit to putting on a show when completed’
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‘The Kinesthete
Physically active. Needs to move their bodies constantly
Childhood Games
Games that involve running, jumping, skipping, dance, climbing - anything that requires physical activity
Adult Possibilities
Join a run club, sign up for dance classes or yoga, go rock climbing or climb trees
Work Incorporation
Organise lunch movement sessions. Become a movement champion and encourage others to stand up and move their body regularly throughout the day
Lockdown Options
Start or join a virtual walking group or gym session. Sign up to an online gym. Set yourself up with a home gym or make sure you have investigated where local outdoor gym equipment is available. Jump online and look for local nature walks’
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‘The Explorer
Adores new experiences (Physical, relational, emotional or mental)
Childhood Games
Class excursions to new places, tasting different foods, listening to music and seeing art. Fascinated with anything out of the normal experience
Adult Possibilities
See galleries in your area, travel, listen to new music, read books, go on spontaneous adventures
Work Incorporation
Start an art appreciation group and organise trips to different galleries or museums. Organise Takeaway Tuesdays where a different cuisine is tried each time. Share a song of the week to inspire and uplift colleagues
Lockdown Options
Organise with friends to do virtual gallery tours together. Start or join a book club. Pick a new walking destination each week and share with friends and family’
Image Five:
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‘The Competitor
Flourishes with competition and striving to win
Childhood Games
Sports, board games and/or creating things for a prize
Adult Possibilities
Join your local football or volleyball club, get the old Monopoly board out or see what competitions are available in your local area, e.g. film festivals, baking competitions
Work Incorporation
Organise baking Mondays where colleagues share what they cooked on the weekend for tasting. Pick a favourite. Start a lunch time board games group
Lockdown Options
Enter writing or poetry competitions. Join fitness challenges such as walking, rowing or burpees for various causes’
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‘The Director
Organising, leading and running the show
Childhood Games
Playing 'school' and always being the teacher, making up and directing dance shows, planning sports events or just the social outings with your little buddies
Adult Possibilities
Sign up to coaching sporting games, plan events for your friends and family, create and plan meet-ups for people with similar interests as you
Work Incorporation
Ask colleagues what they would like to do outside of work and organise outings. Share interesting information you have found on Feel Good Friday to inspire others to grow and learn
Lockdown Options
Organise virtual catch ups and coffee dates. Get your friends online together for virtual movie viewings; Even organise celebration packs to be delivered a head of time (dips, biscuits, cheese and wine)’
Image Seven:
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‘The Collector
Experiences or material possessions, they love to manage and design their collections
Childhood Games
Be it coin or stamp collections, Beanie Kid collections or football cards, collecting, organising and surrounding yourself with your special pieces was bliss as a child
Adult Possibilities
Collect gadgets you find interesting, records or instruments, or 'experiences' that bring you joy
Work Incorporation
Share your interests with colleagues and get together with people who have similar interests. Share stories, show items or photos in lunch breaks or at outside of work meet-ups
Lockdown Options
Join virtual groups that interest you. Take photos on walks of things that intrigue or inspire you - share them with friends and family. Even create a monthly collection of ideas (e.g. use Canva) to share your thoughts and adventures’
Image Eight:
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‘The Artist/Creator
The maker of things and/or the teller of stories; always led by imagination
Childhood Games
Loved art class, cooking with parents, performing on stage, reading and writing stories. Anything that used your imagination and hands to create something special
Adult Possibilities
Bake all the recipes in your favourite cookbook or make your own! Take up pottery or art classes, join an amateur theatre group, write the novel brewing in your hearts
Work Incorporation
Start a writing group and share what you are working on. Share recipes with colleagues and talk about cook books or cooking shows you like
Lockdown Options
Complete a writing or photography short course with friends. Share your writing and images with each other. Take a virtual art class with friends. Invest in cook books or art supplies and let your intuition guide you’