The Importance of Play

“The secret of life is enjoying the passage of time.” – James Taylor

It’s so easy to get caught up in timelines, due dates, and responsibilities and forget the value of what we knew so well when we were younger—play makes life fun!

For adults, reaching a state of play can be a challenge, since it’s usually not prioritized. But playing is truly an intelligent activity. Developing the minds of both adults and youth alike, play increases creative potential, facilitates greater social connection, instigates emotional harmony, improves relationships, cultivates relaxation, and can even elevate your physical health.

There are an infinite number of ways for you to get started playing. Pick up a hobby that you’ve always been interested in but never committed to—like woodworking, paper crafts, gardening, pottery, sewing, model building, collecting, birding, biking, dancing, fishing, or writing. Try out a new sport like swimming or pickleball, learn a new game to play with friends and loved ones, or simply commit to playing the ones you do know more often. Or maybe, upon looking back to previous years, you’ll find an old passion project that you never finished. With play as your guide instead of guilt or obligations, you’ll find yourself effortlessly engaging in self-care activities that supercharge your well-being.

Life can be serious sometimes but playing more puts everything in perspective. In the grand scheme of things, we are only tiny specks under a vast sky. Engaging in more play awakens us to the beautiful opportunities we have in this life, and allows us to see life’s bumps and hurdles as opportunities for growth. If the secret of life really is enjoying the passage of time, then get playing!