Remember when you were a kid, filled with laughter and imagination, and all you wanted to do was play? Somewhere along the way, many of us lose that sense of playfulness. We grow up, take on responsibilities, and before we know it, we're buried under obligations with no room left for fun. Play gets sidelined, treated like a luxury, or considered only for children.
While we encourage children to play, there comes a point where we tell them it's time to "grow up," as if becoming an adult means leaving fun behind. Even the word "play" gets a makeover once we're adults. It's no longer called play—it's rebranded as "leisure activities," which doesn't have the same ring to it.
But play isn't just for kids, and it's certainly not frivolous. In fact, it can be a powerful tool for healing the mind and body, no matter how old you are.
Research shows that playful activities can help prevent and manage depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. Adults who regularly engage in playful activities experience lower stress and more endorphins—your body's feel-good chemicals. Playful activities like sports, creative hobbies, or games can also lower blood pressure, protect against heart disease and cognitive decline, and increase longevity.
Doesn't that sound like something we all want in our lives?
I've been guilty of letting the daily grind get in the way of play. Between work, family responsibilities, and errands, I often tell myself I don't have time to have fun. But when I do take a moment for play—whether it's a quick game of tag with my kids or dancing around the kitchen to music from the 80s—I feel lighter. It recharges my soul...
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