"All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy." Do you remember that adage from when we were growing up? Remember waiting for the school bell, dropping our bags at the door and running out into the neighborhood to simply play? It didn't matter what kind of play it was: soccer, cricket, football, baseball, basketball, tag, volleyball, board games... you know exactly what I am talking about.
Each of us had our own special play. Nobody told us to pick it up, and nobody forced us to take it up. We were drawn to it naturally, and we lost ourselves in it until the streetlights came on or someone called us home for dinner.
Playfulness is the quality of being lighthearted, full of fun and willing to engage in amusement without being overly serious. Interestingly, nobody explains it to us in our early years at school or at home. It is something we experience, mostly with the people around us. What ultimately matters is not the mechanics of the activity but the joy of being in it, so immersed that everything else falls away. So let me ask you: when was the last time you felt playfulness in your daily life?
I was at a recent event with about 80 executives, where the host put forward an unusual challenge. He divided them into 10 teams of 8 and asked them to pretend to be 8-year-olds for the next 45 minutes. For the first 10 minutes, everyone at the table wondered what that even felt like. How do you go from a 30-, 40- or 50-something professional back to being 8?
Each team was handed Legos, clay dough and a handful of miscellaneous garage and household items. Their task was to build something, then step back into their roles as business people and find a way to make it part of the daily workplace. A few folks were skeptical at first, and that was understandable. These were seasoned leaders accustomed to agendas, slide decks and measurable outcomes.
Then something shifted. Hands began to move before minds could object. Someone snapped two bricks together, someone else rolled a lump of clay, and the room began to hum. Ideas and creativity flowed across the tables, and laughter followed. Colleagues who had barely exchanged pleasantries that morning were finishing each other's sentences. Needless to say, it became one of the best bonding moments of their day-and-a-half conference. That is exactly what playfulness looks like: when we lower our guard, curiosity takes over.
So the question is: why can't we be more playful?
Life and work get in the way. Before we know it, we are swept away by our schedules and routines: work deadlines, family obligations, events and chores. There is no dedicated time for play. It sits at the back of our minds and never comes to fruition. Unless we bring intentionality to it, or pair it with something we already do, we will never get to it. We tell ourselves, "I will do it when I have some free time." But free time is a misnomer. Something else will always nibble away at the time you set aside.
Have you noticed that a toddler, a young teen or your dog is always ready to play? That is because they don't yet have a concept of time. When they say "play," it is all about being in the moment and enjoying togetherness. Whether it is hitting a ball, going on a scavenger hunt or sitting down to a board game, they are not thinking about lunch or dinner, TV time or reading time. It is about "their time," and how you spend it with them.
It is ironic, because we as adults should be better at this. After all, we have been taught time and people management, project management and how to look after our mental and physical well-being. So why can't we take 30 to 45 minutes out of our daily or weekly schedule to play?
I am not talking about the New York Times crossword, connection puzzles or any of the cognitive exercises we do on our own to keep our brains sharp. I am referring to a physical activity shared by two or more adults, or an adult and a child. Imagine setting aside 45 minutes to play pickleball, to duel over a tower of Jenga, or simply to head to a nearby playground and swing. No agenda, no scoreboard, no outcome to measure. Just the act of being there.
And the rewards are real. Play eases stress, sparks creativity and strengthens bonds in ways that another meeting or another to-do list never will. It reminds us that we are more than our titles and our calendars. It gives us a reason to laugh out loud, which, let's be honest, many of us have not done in a while.
Here is a simple place to start. Dig into your photo albums and find a picture of yourself between the ages of 8 and 10. What did you enjoy most at the time? Who did you share that activity with?
If they are family members or friends you are still in touch with, reach out and revisit those ties. You may be surprised at how quickly the years fall away. If they are no longer in your life, introduce the activity to your current family or close friends and see who leans in.
You will probably have to try it a few times before you get it right, but start. No one is keeping score, and no one is going to judge you. Give it a try, even if it feels a little silly at first, and see how it goes. You never know what you will discover, or how playful you might become.
So, what's your play? Click Here to share your thoughtsÂ