4 Ways to Add More Play to Life
4 Ways to Add More Play to Life
All children play, but over time adults become less enthusiastic. With responsibilities, families, and traumatic life events, physical enjoyment and play can become a forgotten priority. However, the benefits of adding play into your life are far reaching.
Whether you’re a business executive seeking success, a health nut trying to feel your best, or just a person looking for fun, incorporating more play into your life can make a big difference. Here are 4 different methods that you can use to add more play into your life.
1. Acro yoga – This practice has evolved for hundreds of years, but in the past 20 it has become popularized as “acro yoga”. This partnered acrobatics exercise is not only playful and fun, but it fosters deep connections with others. Humans are tribal creatures, which means we feed on connection and interaction with others.
2. Slacklining – Mental focus and attention is great while working in the office or at school, but in a physical practice it is often lost. Children balance themselves and walk on thin lines all the time. A slackline is a simple device you can use around trees to balance, find inner peace, and have fun.
3. Grappling sports – Boys are often scolded for “rough housing”, but often this wrestling is a form of play to develop strength and bond with others. Grappling sports, such as Brazilian jiu jitsu, are an excellent way for men and women to bond with others and enjoy.
4. Improvise – There are plenty of things you can do without a set routine. Go to the park, play on the monkey bars, walk on your hands, and run up hills. Sometimes you just need to spend time doing instead of thinking and you can end up with far better results!
What You Get with Play
When you incorporate more play into your life, there are a whole host of advantages. For one, physical practice will make you more fit without leading to long term ill-health. Running consistently is harmful to knees, ankles, and hips after a while, but varied play can be sustained for much longer.
More enjoyable play will lead to a greater mood through brain chemicals like dopamine and oxytocin. With a greater mood you can be happier, more enjoyable with your loved ones, and contribute more to your professional life and community.