Rediscovering Play: Why Adults Need It as Much as Kids
Our last Play Note explored how adults can reclaim joy by reconnecting with intrinsically motivated play — activities chosen because they are fun for you, not for rewards or satisfying others. Some of you wrote to say those questions helped you rekindle sparks of joy you hadn’t felt in years. We’re glad to hear it.
This month, we want to go a step further: to show that research has found play is not only a source of joy — it’s a necessity for adult well-being, along the lines of getting good sleep, nutrition, and movement.
Why Adults Still Need Play
- Brain health: Play activates neural pathways that support flexibility, learning, and creativity (Pellis; Bateson).
- Stress recovery: Playful laughter and movement reduce cortisol and increase parasympathetic nervous system activity, supporting recovery from stress (Lefcourt; Panksepp).
- Relationships: Shared play fosters trust, bonding, and empathy (Brown; Proyer, 2014).
- Vitality: Adults who engage in play report greater optimism, energy, and resilience (Fredrickson; Barnett; Proyer, 2016).
As Dr. Stuart Brown and Dr. Brian Sutton-Smith remind us: “Play is not the opposite of work — being playful creates vitality in our lives. The opposite of play is not work, it’s depression.”
Micro Play and Joy Sparks
So how do we get started with rediscovering play? Sometimes all it takes is Micro-Play actions to create Joy Sparks. These are brief intentional acts that create moments of delight, lightness, and joy. For example, when you ball-up a piece of paper and toss it, a grin comes to your face as it falls into the wastebasket; or you take a few moments to create a paper clip sculpture between meetings, and you get a small jolt of creativity and refresh. These short, repeatable bursts of play can reliably produce Joy Sparks and guide you to improved well-being over time. We’ll explore Micro-Play and Joy Sparks in more depth next month, meantime …
A Practical Next Step: Two Joy Sparks
Building on the reflection questions from our last Play Note, here’s an experiment to try:
- Solo Joy Spark: Choose one activity this week that feels playful just for you — dancing to music at home, exploring a new path to walk, or doodling an image.
- Shared Joy Spark: Invite a partner, friend, or colleague into something lighthearted — a game, a walk, or a spontaneous laugh.
Notice how your energy shifts before, during, and after.
If our last Play Note led you to an activity that brought joy or contentment, revisit it today. With each playful moment, you’re not just remembering joy — you’re practicing it, sustaining it, and pointing yourself toward a more vibrant life.
Join the Conversation
Your stories inspire others. Hit reply and share: What’s one Joy Spark that worked for you? We’ll feature a few in next month’s Play Note.
References
- Barnett, L. A. (2011). How do playful people play? Gendered and racial leisure perspectives, motives, and preferences of college students. Leisure Sciences, 33(5), 382–401.
- Bateson, P., & Martin, P. (2013). Play, Playfulness, Creativity and Innovation. Cambridge University Press.
- Brown, S. (2009). Play: How It Shapes the Brain, Opens the Imagination, and Invigorates the Soul. Avery.
- Fredrickson, B. L. (2001). The role of positive emotions in positive psychology: The broaden-and-build theory of positive emotions. American Psychologist, 56(3), 218–226.
- Lefcourt, H. M. (2001). Humor: The psychology of living buoyantly. Springer Science & Business Media.
- Panksepp, J. (1998). Affective neuroscience: The foundations of human and animal emotions. Oxford University Press.
- Pellis, S. M., & Pellis, V. C. (2009). The playful brain: Venturing to the limits of neuroscience. Oneworld Publications.
- Proyer, R. T. (2014). Playfulness over the lifespan and its relation to happiness. Journal of Happiness Studies, 15(4), 1053–1071.
- Proyer, R. T., Gander, F., Wellenzohn, S., & Ruch, W. (2016). Positive psychology interventions in people aged 50–79 years: Long-term effects of a randomized controlled trial. Journal of Positive Psychology, 11(3), 295–305.
