Benefits to Play

Benefits of PLAY

Unhappy gut? Regularly fatigued? Lacking motivation? Stressed on the reg?

Quick question for you....

How often do you play?

“We don’t stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.” George Bernard Shaw

Once we grow up, play is often perceived as unproductive, useless or even accompanies feelings of guilt, particularly in the ambitious culture of the United States. Not to mention, there simply never seems to be enough TIME.

Dr. Stuart Brown, head of National Institute for Play, wrote the book "Play: How it Shapes the Brain, Opens the Imagination, and Invigorates the Soul.” Dr. Brown's (and many others) research is showing lack of play to relate directly to factors like poor coping skills, anxiety, health and even as a predictor of criminal behavior.

Here are the BENEFITS to incorporating more play into our lives...

Increases energy leading to a more active life
Lowers and helps cope with stress
Boosts creativity
Increased vitality
Heals emotional wounds
Fosters resilience
Improves brain function
Improves your relationships and connections with others
Increases life satisfaction

Now, before you book a boozy brunch or plan a late night out, let's come up with some ideas that won't force you to compromise on your health goals:

Jigsaw puzzles or Legos
Art
Reading (especially fiction)
Listening to music
Comedy
Daydreaming
Games like chess, card games, stratego
Play with kids who have a knack for bringing out all of our inner children
Surround yourself with with playful people
Recall favorite childhood activities and recreate them

Too often, I see people nailing their macros, training 5-6 days per week and ticking off the "must-do's" checklist - but who are stuck and frustrated. They scratch their heads when I ask what they do for fun or when they last played. Inevitably, when they start prioritizing this simple piece, their progress rebounds.

You are physiologically wired to benefit from playing, and it could positively impact every aspect of your life! Start by scheduling one hour (or better yet a half-day) of play into your week.