How to Rediscover the Lost Art of Play as an Adult

Brandi Heather shares ways that you can pay attention to how play occurs in your life, and look for opportunities for more play as an adult.

In this episode of Changes BIG and small, I’m going to share some of the research about why play is so important. There are compelling reasons to add play to your life. Stay with me and by the end of the episode, you’ll have some concrete ideas of how you can enrich your life with play. This episode is for everyone.

When I say play, what comes to mind? Are there any adults in the mental image that you create? Do you see yourself play? your children? the children that you know? your younger self?

What is Play? (1:25)

As Brandi Heather mentioned, it’s hard to define play. Medical doctor and play expert Stuart Brown says of play “It’s voluntary, it’s pleasurable, it offers a sense of engagement, it takes you out of time. And the act itself is more important than the outcome.”

When we think of that description, we can see that play is individual. What’s play to me may be the very thing that you dread doing, or vice versa. What are the things that come to mind for you that fit that description? Now imagine a life without play.

Dr. Stuart Brown says:

Our heritage as humans is to…play.
Yes, we are built to play, and built by play.

Dr. Stuart Brown, The Science of Play: Why Play

Why Play (2:30)

Maybe you’re not convinced and you think play is for children. You’re not sure of its value in adulthood. Dr. Stuart Brown outlines 8 benefits of play which you can read on his blog. His research and that of other researchers in the field and adjacent fields about flow, brain health, learning, happiness, work satisfaction, etc. show that play benefits adults in many ways. These include:

• Relieve stress
• Improve brain function
• Stimulate the mind and boost creativity
• Maintain physical fitness, strength and flexibility
• Improve relationships and connections with others
• Improve productivity
• Develop social skills

Your Play Story (3:55)

I’ve just presented many benefits of play for adults, but you may find it easier to relate play to childhood. Let’s explore your play story.

What is the first memory that you have of play?

We discover play early, as babies. In preschool and elementary school, children have recess, during which they are expected to play. Although recess still exists in middle and high school, it seems to be less play focused. I spent my childhood years with my grandmother, and I remember her telling me to go outside and play. But as the years went by, the instruction to go outside and play was replaced by instructions to study.

Let’s do the exercise Brandi mentioned in last week’s episode. Take a moment and think about the last time you played. How did you feel? How long did you spend playing? What happened to trigger play and how did it end? What are the activities that are fun for you, and thus playful? Could you make a list of those activities?

It might help you to consider your play personality. Dr. Stuart Brown identifies 8 personalities:

• Joker
• Kinesthete
• Explorer (physical, mental or emotional)
• Competitor
• Director
• Collector
• Artist/Creator
• Storyteller

Like with many personality models, you don’t have to solely be one thing or another. You can be a combination of these, or perhaps you behave differently in different situations. I think the classifications are useful for thinking of the types of activities you may enjoy. Use it to open yourself up to more options and not to limit yourself.

Lots more ideas here and here.

Articles

• 10 Ways Adults Can be More Playful, Kathleen Alfano
• Journal of Play in Adulthood
• Museum of Play
• Participating in Activities You Enjoy, National Institute of Aging
• Play in Mind in Psychology Today
• Staying Young at Heart: Why Adults Should be Playing More, Caileigh Flannigan
• The Expert View: How much play should we have in our lives?, Lucy McGuire
• What does play have to do with wellness? by Dr. Bowen White, M.D.

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