It’s been over a year since I originally made this video challenging all of us to make room for more PLAY, but I don’t think the message has ever been more important. Play has been linked with increased curiosity, innovation, social connection, and focus. That’s fantastic news, because Shawn Achor found that social connection, optimism, and the ability to reframe stress as a challenge instead of a threat are the three things that set apart top performers from good performers.
If you are stuck, burned out, and depressed at work, the answer isn’t more work – the answer is more play! In this video, I discuss research that makes the case for the importance of play as a way to build self-care into your life. The links to each of these TED talks is provided in the summary. I also provided an example of one way I have incorporated play into my life: A slide whistle! Making room for little moments of play throughout the day can start to reset your brain for more productivity, decreased anxiety, and self-care.
Here are the sources of the research I discussed:
Stuart Brown – Play is More than Fun This TED talk describes how human beings don’t outgrow their need for play. Play is an altered state of consciousness, like sleep. The opposite of play isn’t work – it’s depression. Play can reset the brain, offsett the predator- prey/flight or flight dynamic and explore new possibilities.
Shawn Achor – Happy Secret to Better Work Shawn described how incorporating play into his work routine cured him of depression, burnout, and a frenetic cycle of ineffective overproduction.
John Cohn – The Importance of Play This self-described nerd and engineer described how play has increased his creativity and resilience throughout his professional and personal life – but play has been especially powerful in helping him and his family grieve after the loss of his son.