What happened to playfulness?

It's time to get serious about being less serious...

Can you remember the last time you did something just for fun? Not to accomplish anything, not to learn anything, not to post it on social media, not to be good for your body - but the last time you truly played?

Somewhere along the way, many of us stop doing things just to play. We get caught up in results, progress, and productivity. Yet play invites us back into curiosity—into flow, into trying new things, and into enjoying the moment even when we’re clumsy, awkward, or just beginning.

Why is play so important?

Play is a vital part of being human. Research shows that it not only relieves stress, but also sparks creativity, enhances problem-solving, and nurtures our overall sense of happiness and well-being. Playfulness also deepens our connections with others—strengthening empathy, building bonds, and fostering a greater sense of community.

Now, I know what you might be thinking, in our busy adult lives, I can hear you screaming at me "this all sounds lovely, but I simply don't have the time..". And to that, I'm going to be slightly blunt with you...

Sometimes we give our to-do lists far too much importance, as if the world might stop spinning if everything doesn’t get done.

In reality, most of it can wait—we forget that life isn’t meant to be managed—it’s meant to be lived.

So, I want to plant the seed. What if play…

• Isn’t something you have to earn by getting everything else done?

• Is the thing that actually helps you come back to life and gives you more energy to finish your to-do list?

• Is exactly what your brain’s been craving—not as a reward, but as a reset?

Inviting play into our lives...

Here are some simple ways you could re-introduce some play into your life:

1.   Get outside - when in doubt, I find immersing in nature is the answer. Nature is our first playground and one of the greatest teachers, step outdoors with curiosity and wonder

2.   Rediscover your childhood passions - think back to your childhood, what did you love to do? Draw? Bake? Dance? It's never too late to start again...

3.   Try something new - speaking of it's never too late...it's never too late to try something new! Forget looking clumsy, you're there to have fun, not to achieve. Just remember, no one else thinks about you as much as you do.

Let's start focusing more on play and less on progress in our lives. What's the point of this life if it isn't fun?