How to get more play in your Life

Make a list of all the things you currently do in your life that you consider fun. They can be small like singing in the car on your way to work, but big like being a part of a pickleball group, and weekly piano lessons.

Include activities like watching TV or scrolling IG if you think that is fun. Take away the judgment for now, like whether it’s good for you or not. Now run each activity through these questions, as play is not the same as fun although some play can also be fun. (hot link fun)

In addition, much of the following information comes the National Institute For Play, a non-profit organization founded by Dr. Stuart Brown, coauthor of the book “Play” and dedicated to getting the word out about the many benefits of Play in both kids and in adults.

For starters, the neuroscientist Jaak Panksepp included Play as one of the SEVEN primary emotions (hot link to the list)