Health Connect Series: Welcome Play into Your Summer

Summer and summer vacations are fast approaching. Kids are ready for the homework-free days with no work and all play. But what about adults? Alice Cooper’s hit “School’s Out for Summer” may now cause you more stress than excitement. The responsibilities of adulting have snuck in, trumping being spontaneous and playful. Somewhere between childhood and adulthood, you stop playing.  Play is not just essential for the health and wellbeing of kids; it’s an important source of relaxation and stimulation for adults too. Welcome back play to your life. There’s no better time than summer to make it happen. 

What is play? Dr. Stuart Brown, researcher and founder of the National Institute for Play, and author of “Play: How it Shapes the Brain, Opens the Imagination, and Invigorates the Soul,” defines play as a “state of mind that one has when absorbed in an activity that provides enjoyment and a suspension of sense of time.” Play is also described as voluntary and inherently attractive. It’s anything you do recreationally that brings you joy or excitement. 

Play is not just an activity. It leaves you wanting to experience the feeling again. Doesn’t sound bad, does it? And it also doesn’t sound like something that is solely meant for kids. 

The Perks of Play. Children are encouraged to play for their physical, cognitive, emotional, and social skills. As an adult, you benefit in the same way. There’s a tendency with “growing up” to let go of the carefree kid inside you to focus on the priorities and demands of adulthood. But something amazing happens when you let yourself play. Your body wakes up.  

Physical jumpstart. When you jump, land, or mix up angles of movement, your tendons, muscles, and bones are activated and help you figure out where you are in space. You become more agile, feeling young, energetic, and less prone to injury from everyday activities. 

Brain boost. When you play, you laugh, smile, and maybe even giggle. This releases feel-good endorphins, improves memory, stimulates the growth of new brain cells, and boosts creativity.  

Recharge and reset your mind. Being in a relaxed and playful state enables your mind to cope with the stressors of life. Give yourself permission to play. You’ll appreciate the beauty around you, be more productive, and have a positive outlook. You’ll be more pleasant to be around. 

Three cheers for staying connected. Sharing laughter and fun fosters empathy, compassion, trust, and intimacy with others. Sharpen your social skills while goofing around and embarking on silly adventures. 

Wake up your playful side. Maybe it’s been a while since you’ve thought about playing. Take a minute to remember what you loved to do as a child, and then consider Dr. Brown’s eight “play personalities” that will help you jumpstart play in your life again. 

The Collector: You enjoy building collections. 
The Competitor: You enjoy playing and winning games with specific rules. 
The Creator or Artist: You find joy in making things and making things work. 
The Director: You enjoy planning and directing. 
The Explorer: You play by discovering something new, either physically or mentally. 
The Joker: You enjoy being silly and making friends and family laugh. 
The Kinesthete: You enjoy moving your body as you play.  
The Storyteller: You play by listening to or creating stories. 

Play! Not as crazy as it sounds. Prioritizing healthy habits such as exercise, diet, and sleep is important, and adding fun and goofiness will also have a positive effect on your overall wellbeing. Play is an investment in your health. 

Remember the feeling you had as a kid knowing summer was coming? The long days of being outside, running barefoot, jumping through sprinklers, splashing in puddles, and swinging for hours? This summer, in between the hectic schedules and daily grind of work and family, unleash the kid inside you and make time to play.  

We don’t stop playing because we’re old; we grow old because we stop playing. 

Heidi Kutz 

Education Specialist, ViaroHealth 

For questions or comments, contact wellness@viarohealth.com