Do You Play Enough?
When we were kids, many of us just played without having to think about it.
We didn’t consider whether it was good for us, or if we needed to play more. We just did it because it was fun.
Hours were spent outdoors doing all sorts of things and nothing at all. We used our bodies and we used our imaginations.
As we age, a lot of people stop playing for a variety of reasons. I do not presume to understand these reasons but I do know that it happens and it can be troubling.
When we stop playing:
We limit the amount of fun in our lives
Our social interaction may not be as enjoyable as they could be
There is often less movement occuring
We lose some of our brain-body connection
When I refer to play, I am talking about those activities you do just for the enjoyment of them, either alone or with others. There is no actual purpose to them outside of your fun.
They don’t have to involve movement, though as a trainer I’m always going to encourage you to find play that does involve movement.
Some examples of play could include hiking, skiing, biking, a group fitness class (really), painting, knitting, game night with friends … anything at all that YOU find enjoyable.
Engaging in play alone and with others are both important. They re-energize us in different ways.
Our time alone can be very reflective and help us to grow emotionally. Time with friends connects us to each other, which is essential to aging well.
Play is not a requirement of life but it does make life more enjoyable. If it feels good, you’re doing it right!
Action Steps:
Consider what your ideas of fun are. Sometimes it’s hard to recognize if we’ve been away from it for awhile.
Do at least one fun thing this week and then try to incorporate a little bit more fun into every week.
