July 4th truly feels like the beginning of those quintessential summer vibes, doesn’t it?
With the long holiday weekend on the horizon, I can almost smell the fresh, sweet watermelon slices and the smoky aroma of a charcoal grill. Picture sunscreen-scented air and sticky fingers from melted ice pops. Play is in the air.
Play is an essential pillar of well-being, often forgotten in adulthood. We can easily get trapped in the “adulting” mindset, where responsibilities weigh us down, leaving little energy or mental capacity for play.
But here's the secret: play replenishes our energy. It doesn’t deplete it.
While playing all day, every day might not be feasible; imagine sprinkling a bit more play into our daily routines. What if we brought play into our work meetings? To our family dinners? What if cooking breakfast felt like play, or exercise became a joyful activity rather than a chore?
I admit, I can take life too seriously at times, wrapped up in the need to “move life” forward. Adhering to a strict schedule feels responsible and necessary.
However, I’ve learned that strict scheduling is often a form of control, a way to mitigate anxiety by planning every detail. My inner voice says, “If I plan and overschedule, nothing unpleasant can happen.”
But that approach doesn’t work. It’s not wrong—it's a way of trying to keep me safe. Yet, it also prevents me from living fully, shutting out spontaneity and the magic of the unexpected.
Life is too short not to play as much as possible. My nieces and nephews constantly remind me of this.
So, I’ve made it a mission to infuse play into all areas of my life, even the mundane chores like weeding the garden.
Here are some tangible ways I intentionally add more play into my days:
Playing tennis during a lunch break
Taking myself on a solo date
Playing dress-up with my clothes
Biking around the city
Dancing while I cook
Spontaneously having a picnic in the park
Voice-noting my solopreneur community
Taking webinars on a walk
Having tough conversations in a more fun environment (ie. a cafe, park bench etc)
Facetime kids for a mid-afternoon playful pick-me-up
Making flower bouquets from the garden or store
Let’s embrace the joy of play this summer. How will you bring more play into your life? Share with me below!