HEALTH
In our hectic lives of today’s world, many of us focus so much on our work and family commitments that we never seem to have time for fun - pure fun!
As we grew up and our lives became more focused and with more responsibilities, we stopped playing!
When we do carve out some leisure time, we are more likely to zone out in front of the TV or computer then actually engage in fun.
Play is not just essential for kids - it can also be a very important source of relaxation or stimulation for adults as well.
Playing with your significant other, your friends, co-workers, pets, children - is a sure - and fun - way to boost your imagination, creativity, problem solving ability and emotional well being.
Adult play time is a time to forget about work and commitments, and to be social in an unstructured, creative way.
Playing could simply be goofing off with friends, sharing a joke - a laugh - with a co-worker, throwing a frisbee on a beach or even in your backyard, building a snowman in your yard, playing with your pet, acting out charades at a party or gathering, going for a bike ride with your spouse or a friend with no particular destination in mind… add some ideas of your own to this list.
There doesn’t need to be any point to the activity beyond having some unstructured time, having fun and enjoying yourself.
By giving yourself permission to play with the joyful abandon of childhood, you can reap oodles of health benefits throughout life.
While play is crucial for a child’s development, it is also beneficial for people of all ages.
Play can add joy to your life, relieve stress, supercharge learning, and connect you to others and the world around you.
Play can also make work more productive and pleasurable .
You can play on your own or with a pet, but for greater benefits, play should involve at least one other person, away from the sensory-overload of electronic gadgets .
Play helps:
Relieve stress - play can trigger the release of endorphins, which promote an overall sense of well-being and can even temporarily relieve pain
Improve brain function - pursuing fun activities that challenge the brain can help prevent memory problems and improve brain function. The social interaction of playing with family and friends can also help ward off stress and depression.
Stimulate the mind and boost creativity - you will learn a new task better when it’s fun and you’re in a relaxed and playful mood. Play can also stimulate your imagination, helping you adapt and solve problems.
Improve relationships and your connection to others - sharing laughter and fun can foster empathy, compassion, trust and intimacy with others.
Play doesn’t have to include a specific activity: it can also be a state of mind. Developing a playful nature can help you loosen up in stressful situations, break the ice with strangers, make new friends, and form new business relationships. Sometimes, just smiling can help create a more playful attitude. Scientific research has shown that the mere act of smiling can lift your mood, lower stress, boost your immune system and possibly prolong your life.
A smile spurs a chemical reaction in the brain, releasing certain hormones, including dopamine and serotonin. Dopamine increases our feelings of happiness and serotonin is associated with reduced stress. All of these benefits from a 10 - 15 second smile!
Keeps you feeling young and energetic - to quote George Bernard Shaw, “We don’t stop playing because we grow old: we grow old because we stop playing.”
Play can boost your energy and vitality and even improve your resistance to disease, helping you function at your best.
Play is one of the most effective tools for keeping relationships fresh and exciting.
Playing together brings joy, vitality, and resilience to relationships.
Play can also heal resentments, disagreements and hurts. Through regular play, we learn to trust one another and feel safe.
Take time to ponder what play - fun - means to you. Make your own list, smile and get started!
