How (and Why) to Incorporate Play Into Your Daily Routine
When was the last time you let yourself truly play?
And no, I’m not just talking about games—though those definitely count! Play is anything that sparks joy, creativity, and a sense of wonder in your life. It’s about doing something just for the fun of it, with no agenda or expectations.
Play isn’t just for kids; it’s a powerful way to relieve stress, calm your nervous system, and inspire fresh, expansive thinking. In this post, we’ll dive into why play matters so much for your well-being and share simple ways to bring more of it into your daily routine—starting with just a few minutes a day.
Why Play Isn’t Just for Kids
We often don’t allow ourselves to play because we think we don’t have the time. We get hyper-focused on capitalistic views of productivity, which we then sometimes tie to our self-worth. We believe we can’t sit and relax because we should be doing something! We have work to do, laundry to catch up on, bills to pay, and errands to run. Play feels like something kids get to do while we get stuck adulting.
But that’s not true!
Play isn’t just for kids. In fact, when you choose a play activity that speaks to your soul, it can often bring you into a meditative state, allowing you to become closer to your true purpose. If you let yourself think that play is only for kids, you get further away from the heart of what truly matters to you.
Once you allow room for play into your life, you can feel yourself opening up in new ways or awakening old patterns of joy you had forgotten about. You’ll discover new forms of creativity and inspiration. And you can move away from comparing yourself to traditional productivity metrics that often make us feel like we’re not measuring up.
Starting a Playful Routine
When I say it’s important to play, I don’t necessarily mean you have to drop everything and go find a pickup game of basketball (although if you want to, I’m certainly not stopping you). We all have responsibilities, and it’s not realistic for most of us to just walk away from our lives to go have some play. In fact, the idea of adding play into our busy, busy routines can sound so ludicrous that I think it’s why we often dismiss play as being something only kids do.
This is why our adult minds need to think of play as somewhat different. Yes, play can be traditional, like playing a board game, sliding down a slide, or playing a game of pickleball. But play can also mean simply engaging in the act of being playful.
It can mean incorporating storyboarding at your next staff meeting and encouraging people to draw their ideas. It can mean practicing singing a song while driving to work. It can mean digging out some crafting or art supplies you’ve had in your closet but never had the chance to do anything with. Play is anything that brings a sense of whimsy and creativity to your life.
As an example, here are some ways I’ve brought playfulness into my routine this week:
I’ve read daily for 15 minutes: 5 minutes of non-fiction, 5 minutes of poetry, and 5 (okay, maybe 20) minutes of fiction.
I’ve spent every day coloring a bit of my monthly calendar coloring book page from A Brighter Year.
I’ve spent 15 minutes a day doing some cozy gaming, including checking on my fish in Chillquarium and decorating my gardens in Garden Galaxy.
I’ve spent a few hours playing around in Canva with new designs for my Etsy shop.
I’ve experimented with new social media creation methods that make my marketing tasks more fun.
I spent a few hours taking my 10-year-old son to a hands-on exhibit to explore French impressionist art.
And guess what? Not only has play lightened my spirit, but it’s also motivated me to get more things done for my business. That’s because play gives me the space to clear my mind and make room for tasks that require more brain power.
How Play Actually Helps You Be More Productive
Even if we bought into the hyper-productive views of capitalism (which around these parts, we absolutely don’t), I’ve gotten more done in small bursts of work because I’ve allowed myself to play.
Playfulness not only adds some interest and fun to my daily routine but also helps if I fall into old patterns of stress or feel overwhelmed. As I make business decisions or tackle my to-do list, play fills me with the fuel to keep going.
If you think about it, it makes sense that play would be so powerful. After all, play is one of the oldest forms of activity and expression. (Some even believe it pre-dates human culture itself!) From roleplaying to solving puzzles, playing music to drawing pictures, play helps with innovation, creativity, self-confidence, problem-solving, communication, critical thinking, stress relief, mental health, and much more.
In short, giving yourself room to play can actually help you be more productive. I mean, if you’re into that sort of thing. ;)
The Positive Impact of Play
I’ve seen thousands of people change their lives through play. And as an educator, empowerment coach, and author of a book about games-based learning, I know what I’m talking about! Play is an immensely powerful tool for leveling up your life.
Trust me when I say play is crucial to your well-being and happiness. And you can start today with just a few minutes a day.
Consider this your sign to play today, even if it’s just for five minutes. Then, leave a comment below and let me know how it goes!
