Don’t Act Your Age...Play!

Page: 1 2 3 4 (of 6)	Next

Make your summer as much fun as the ones you remember having as a kid. All work and no play not only makes our lives dull, but also affects our physical and emotional well-being. Rediscover the child within you and take time to play.

How often do you play? You know, do something just for the fun of it, use your imagination, and lose yourself in the moment.

“Play?” you ask incredulously. “Who has time to play?” Maybe you’re like the character in that old Harry Chapin song, “Cat’s in the Cradle”:

My son turned 10 just the other day. He said, “Thanks for the ball, Dad, come on let’s play! Can you teach me to throw?” I said, “Not today. I’ve got a lot to do.” He said, “That’s OK.”

Even if the kids are long gone, chances are you still find yourself too busy to play. Like the harried parent in Chapin’s song, we all have our planes to catch and bills to pay. Commutes, careers, household chores, errands, and social engagements seem to leave little time for spontaneous fun. Even when we do have some precious unscheduled time, it seems like we should be doing something constructive, not frivolous.

To think of play as a luxury enjoyed by those with a lot of free time—children, retirees, the independently wealthy—is to underestimate play’s nature and power. Everyone needs to play. Spending time doing something just for the sheer fun of it is as important to our mental and physical health as a good diet, adequate sleep, regular exercise, and satisfying relationships.

Play is one of those pleasure-giving activities that stimulates the “feel good” chemicals in our brains, improving our emotional outlooks and recharging us mentally. If play involves moving our bodies around, as it often does, the exercise provides physical benefits, too. Perhaps scientists can’t prove that play keeps us from getting sick or helps us live longer, but it surely improves our quality of life. When you look back at the years gone by, you may discover that some of the most memorable, most fulfilling moments—times when you really felt alive—happened while you were at play.