How to Play as an Adult (and Why You Should)

Do you remember your playtime as a child? Paint everywhere, glitter in your hair and a trusty crayon in your hand? That playtime was essential for your brain development, imagination, and physical and emotional strength. You could even say that it made you who are today!

Can you remember the last time you played as an adult? It’s a little harder, isn’t it? Typically, adults don’t tend to view playtime as an important element of our work-led lives, but in fact, there are multiple studies out there that prove the contrary – playtime is just as important for grown-ups as it is for little ones. 

The issue is, the act of play doesn’t come easy for us list-writing, tax-paying adults and how you do it is unique to you. So, to get you started, here are some simple steps to help you experience the unbridled joy of playtime once again!

Step 1: Prioritise play

Arguably the hardest step of them all – make time for your playtime! Playing is important for combating burnout, stress and other symptoms of adult life as well as being a great way to flex your creative muscles. So, it’s actually not a bad idea to add ‘have fun’ to your latest to-do list. 

Although you may experience elements of play throughout your everyday life, consider carving out a special moment, time or place to let go and feel joy. This is an important part of psychologically allowing yourself to ‘play’, which is a common barrier in adulthood.

Step 2: Focus on creativity and let go of productivity 

Play, by definition, is to take part in an activity purely for recreational and enjoyment purposes. While a brain-teasing game of Words With Friends or a heart-rate-rising game of tennis is all well and good, there’s something to be said for breaking free from the shackles of ‘productive fun’ and instead, getting creative with your playtime. Imagination and creativity are key elements when it comes to childhood play – and we’ve got a thing or two to learn from our younger counterparts when it comes to having a good time! 

Your playtime, however, doesn’t have to look exactly like it did when you were a child. There’s a high chance you’ve outgrown getting on all-fours and pretending to be a cat or destroying the living room in the name of an epic blanket fort (it’s also ok if you still enjoy the occasional sofa-cushion castle). 

Instead, why not try dusting off your watercolour set and seeing where it takes you? Or mould a lump of clay with no goal or finished masterpiece in mind. Let your imagination take you somewhere, just as you did when you were little. 

Step 3: Don’t be afraid to get it wrong

One of the reasons we forego playtime in adulthood is because we become more self-conscious as we age. As a child, the world expects you to experiment, be silly and get things wrong but as we grow, society’s expectations of us change and in turn so does the way we view ourselves. We start to feel the need to master each hobby we try or convert our interests into side-hustles or income streams. 

It doesn’t have to be this way! By accepting our failed attempts at knitting, our paintings that aren’t quite a Monet or our poems that aren’t exactly Wordsworth-worthy, we’re actually allowing ourselves to experience these wonderful creative activities in their purest form. Most importantly, we’re allowing ourselves to have fun. 

However you find your joy, remember to be kind and allow yourself to experience the silly, wrong and wonderful moments in all their glory – that’s how you play!