by Athirah Sofea

Somewhere along the journey of childhood to adulthood, we left behind the art of play. 

In our fast-paced, modern lives, the concept of pure fun often slips through our fingers. When we do find a moment of leisure, we’re more likely to be glued to screens than engaging in rejuvenating play, like we did as kids.  

Play isn’t just a childhood luxury, it’s a necessity for adults too. Just as play is essential for healthy child development, especially in empowering children to develop cognitive, emotional and behavioural skills, it also holds great value for adults. Grown-ups need playtime to relax, recharge, reconnect, and reinvest in self-care.  

Adult play comes in various forms and looks more like downtime, a break from the daily grind to recharge our batteries. There are many ways for adults to incorporate more play into their lives, from pursuing hobbies and interests to engaging in sports and outdoor activities, which can enhance the enjoyment and commitment to physical activity, encouraging a healthier lifestyle. 

Play could be as simple as goofing off with friends, sharing jokes with a coworker, throwing a frisbee on the beach with your family, playing fetch with a dog, acting out charades at a party, or going for a bike ride with your spouse with no destination in mind. 

As stress levels continue to rise, researchers emphasize the importance of play for adults. Play brings joy to daily life, helps relieve stress, boosts mental health and can even enhance physical well-being. 

Here are four reasons why play should be a priority in your adulthood:  

• It improves your relationships.  
  Laughing and having fun with others can foster empathy, compassion, trust and intimacy. Developing a playful nature can help you loosen up in stressful situations, break the ice with strangers and make new friends. 

• It’s good for managing your stress levels.  
  Play can trigger the release of endorphins, the body’s natural feel-good chemicals. These promote an overall sense of wellbeing and can even temporarily relieve pain. 

• It improves your brain function.  
  Playing games that challenge the brain, such as chess and puzzles can help prevent memory problems and improve brain function. This can also help ward off depression. 

• It stimulates your mind and boosts activity.  
  It makes you more productive. More companies – like Google – have set up play stations and encourage employees to play and collaborate. This, in turn, helps foster team building and cooperation within the company.  

Play can also be integrated into adult life during office break times. In our department for example, we’ve naturally incorporated play into our routines, fostering connections through activities such as solving puzzles together, playing board games or even indulging in a game of ping pong when time allows, particularly on Friday evenings. Some of us enjoy brisk walks during lunch breaks, either solo or in groups. I find that this approach of incorporating play into our workdays has proven to be highly beneficial for our overall well-being in the office. 

Just as adults prioritize healthy habits like diet, exercise and sleep, consciously making time for play in your weekly or daily routines is equally important. So don’t hesitate and rediscover the magic of play as a fundamental aspect of your adult life.