Reviving Our Inner Child Through Play

In this last blog of the Engagement Pathway series, we’ll be exploring the importance of play. 

Play makes us feel jovial, carefree and takes us back to a simpler time in our minds. It combines fun, curiosity, exploration, sometimes laughter, maybe even competition, and it puts us into that ideal flow state of being fully present with what we’re doing. 

Reviving Our Inner Child

Think back to a time when you would wake up every day, and all you had to do is play. I get it, it was a long time ago, a really long time ago.  Maybe you don’t remember what you did before you were five. You probably remember times when you had to spend part of your day in school, playing during recess and after school. When I think back to those good old days, I remember being totally immersed in play, and time flew by. Whether it was swimming most of the day, playing hopscotch, Barbie,s or hide and seek. The goal was just to have fun!

When was the last time you let go of feeling self-conscious, or your focus on getting a result, and just had fun? Research suggests that we are built to play and built through play. It allows you to see things in a different way, and explore new behaviors, thoughts, strategies, and ways of being that stimulate your brain for learning, growth, and creativity. Playing can energize you, renew your optimism, and open you up to new possibilities

I am so fortunate to have grandchildren who want me to play with them, and I take every opportunity to let go, and just play. It’s absolutely awesome to enjoy the fun of feeling actively engaged in what we’re doing, without the need for a bigger outcome. They bring out the child in me, when I play hide and seek, board games, or dolls and dinosaurs. I’m totally immersed and not worried about email, text or work – it’s the best! Many companies have adopted play to enhance innovation, learning, and growth. Gamification leverages people’s natural tendencies for competition, achievement, collaboration, and engagement. 

Make Time For Play

Brainstorm some ways that you can incorporate more play into your every day. It doesn’t need to be a large commitment, even 10-minute increments of play throughout the day can significantly improve your mood and help you reset your nervous system.  It could be spending time with your pets, your kids or telling a joke. Try to find small amounts of creative play. For me, it may be a few minutes of throwing a ball with the dogs, coloring, using my hula hoop, or pretending I can actually sing. 

Use this exercise as an opportunity to explore and get creative. Add a fun sticker to your habit tracker on the days you spent time having fun.

Keep going, keep growing…

Related posts:

How Living a More Engaged Life Can Help You Thrive

Discover Your Strengths and Feel More Creative, Confident, and Engaged 

Mindfulness: A Habit to Boost Engagement and Happiness