Staying Playful When You’re Not With People

Play proves an essential part of life for people of all ages. It doesn’t just apply to kids. Sure, kids absolutely benefit from play from the scientific perspective that the act itself helps develop their executive functioning skills, and it does important work when it comes to a skill like self-regulation, but play has a multitude of benefits for adults as well. We’d argue that play is just as advantageous for adults as it is for kids. Check out this TedTalk, where Ted Fischer talks about the importance of play for senior citizens. Although his talk specifically focuses on an older population, there’s plenty of take-aways for young and middle aged adults to garner from his talk.

You might also consider reading this article from The Genius of Play that gives ten helpful tips for remaining playful as an adult. The list is full of helpful hints that will help keep things playful, even if you’re all by yourself. Play is about harnessing the power of connection and building meaningful relationships. It centers around laughing and getting curious about things, people, and spaces around you. The act becomes a practice capable of changing your outlook on life. Give some of these tips a chance, give them a try, and see if you find yourself giggling in greater intervals or singing random songs in line at the grocery store.