I have the great good fortune of being a part of a small group of coaches who meet every week to talk shop. While I have learned countless things from these very wise women related to my practice, I have also benefitted from some of our less “on topic” discussions, including one recently where we talked about our ability to play. And, how hard that can be when work itself is a source of joy and deep satisfaction.
Play is not only important, it is individual – we get to define what it is for ourselves. Sure, games are fun (I’ll challenge anyone to a Scrabble game, right now); sports are fantastic, and travel is transporting, but we can be playful in lots of other ways as well. The key is to be honest about what you enjoy and to give yourself permission to engage. Or even indulge.
How we play is “as unique to an individual as a fingerprint” and could mean collecting stamps, tossing a football, reading a book, or climbing Mount Everest, says psychiatrist Stuart Brown, founder of the National Institute for Play in Carmel Valley, Calif.
(“Why it’s good for grown-ups to go play”, Jennifer Wallace, Washington Post May 20, 2017)
As we move away from the most strictly confining period of many of our lives and into a summer that is predicted to be one of release and renewal, this seems like a great time to double down on the serious importance of play. I want to acknowledge, however, that it may not be easy for all of us, and we are likely to have some vestiges of caution or concern that are both emotional and rational. Naming this is a great first step in designing something that does work for us.
But play we must! A client recently shared his spiritual exhaustion with me. The founder and CEO of a start-up, he is understandably tired and carries a lot on his shoulders. In addition to coaching around delegation, communications, setting priorities and boundaries, and juggling competing demands, I also addressed the importance of fun and release. When he bikes, gardens, plays games, and cooks, he can stop being CEO and just be a person. Balancing solo activities and ones with friends and family, he can give himself not just a much-need break, but also gain valuable perspective. Each time he does this, he returns to work with renewed energy. The bottom line is that it is not a zero-sum equation – time playing outside of work doesn’t diminish productivity or success...it enhances it!
In a new study by Brigham Young University, teams that played a collaborative (video) game together for just 45 minutes were able to increase their productivity on a task by 20%.
(“Boost Productivity 20%: The Surprising Power Of Play”, Tracy Bower, Fast Company, March 3, 2019)
Why don’t we let the summer of 2021 be one where we get quite intentional about what it means to live our lives well and fully, to define what delights and nurtures us, and to be honest about our needs and desires. There will always be plenty of heaviness; let’s give ourselves permission to be light – whatever that means for you.
