Remember when you were young and everything was some kind of a game? As adults we tend to focus on work and responsibilities. We feel like we don’t have time to play. It seems to be a waste of time as we face the long list of things that we must do. When we do have a free moment we would rather just rest of zone out in front of the TV.
Working with children, I get to see the value of play everyday. Children work through their challenges with play. They learn social skills and how to navigate the world, all of this while having a great time. We could learn a few lessons from our children.
Play may look different with adults. It may be a hobby, goofing off with friends, or playing sports. These may sound like things we do if we have the time, but they should be things we make time to do. Play for adults has numerous benefits. It relieves stress (and we all know the negative consequences of stress) and connects us with others (it is a great way to keep relationships fresh and exciting). Play is also important to our physical and mental well-being. It may get us to exercise, which in turn will help us feel good, stay in shape, and sleep better. Much like with children play can help us work better with others, improve our social skills, and foster creativity and learning.
So the next time you feel tired and depleted try playing. The benefits are worth it!
-Claudia
I remember when I was really little and there wasn't much t.v. programming, the adults used to play cards and board games together in the evenings. Family and friends would gather at someone's home and play Monopoly, pacheesie or bridge way into the night. There was always much laughter and talking. People really unwound, shared stories, told jokes. Not the sort of mute crashing in front of the t.v. that we do nowadays. It's amazing how much energy you recharge by actually playing with others.
ReplyDeleteSo true! Playing does recharge us and makes us feel more connected to others. We all need more play in our lives ;-)
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