What is Play and How Does it Benefit Adults?
There are numerous benefits of play for adults and children alike. It helps to naturally promote physical and mental activity, as well as provide a way to relax and have fun.
For adults, play can also help to reduce stress levels, improve relationships with family and friends, and even increase productivity in the workplace. This article will explore the benefits of play for adults and ways that you can incorporate play activities into your daily life.
The Three Cornerstones of Playful Living
Playful living is the practice of incorporating playful activities into your life. It is a lifestyle that emphasizes creativity, learning, and fun. Who wouldn’t love that?
The three cornerstones of playful living are creative activities, physical activities, and social activities. Creative activities involve using imagination and problem-solving skills to make something new or express yourself through art or music. Physical activities involve movement and exercise that help you stay healthy and feel good. Social activities involve connecting with others in meaningful ways such as playing games together, sharing stories, or having conversations.
You can enrich your life and get the most benefit from play activities by incorporating an activity or two that you enjoy from each of the three cornerstones. Find a creative hobby to participate in, play a sport or join a dance class, have a weekly game night, etc.
The Physical Benefits of Play for Adults
Physical play offers a range of health benefits, including improved physical fitness, better mental health, and even reduced risk of chronic diseases. Regular physical playing provides an opportunity to move your body and get exercise without it feeling like a chore.
Participating in activities you find fun or exciting can also help reduce stress and improve your mood. By engaging in physical play, adults can reap the same benefits that children do. These include increased strength, flexibility, coordination, and balance. Activities like playing tag, dancing, hopscotch, jumping rope, or playing sports are good for more than just goofing off.
The Mental Benefits of Play for Adults
Participating in activities that are fun and engaging can help adults improve both their cognitive development and emotional wellbeing. Whether it’s playing a game with friends or engaging in a creative activity like painting or writing, play can be a way to challenge your brain or an outlet to help you destress or process emotions.
How to Incorporate More Play into Your Life
Everyone needs a little bit of play in their lives. It helps to reduce stress, improve mental health, and even increase productivity. Incorporating more play into your life can be as simple as taking a break from work or the daily grind to do something fun.
Now, I will share some ideas of play activities you can add to your life. This is not an exhaustive list, just some ideas to get you thinking of ways you can add more play to your daily life.
Creative Play Activities
- Poetry readings
- Story telling
- Playing with slime or thinking putty
- Coloring
- Drawing
- Painting
- Acting
- Cosplay
- Playing games that encourage exploration and imagination (i.e. Minecraft, Animal Crossing, etc.)
- Woodworking
- Building models
- Jigsaw puzzles
- Playing an instrument
Physical Play Activities
- Snowball or water balloon fights
- Sports
- Playing tag
- Dancing
- Gardening
Social Play Activites
- Board games
- Bingo nights
- Art/crafting clubs and classes
- Community theater
- Team sports
Start Reaping the Benefits of Playing Today!
The benefits of play for adults are numerous, from improved mental and physical health to increased creativity and productivity. Playtime can be used as a form of therapy to help manage stress and anxiety, or simply as a way to relax and have fun. Playing together with family and friends can also create stronger bonds and foster better communication. So why wait? Start reaping the benefits of playing today!
How do you incorporate play into your life? Please share with us in the comments below!
