As adults we have left the world of play behind. That is unfortunate as it is a key component to our happiness.  We have grown oblivious to what we knew as children, play is fun, it is pure enjoyment.

We think everything we endeavor must have a tangible outcome. We don’t take the time to just enjoy leisure activities.  Princeton researcher Alan Krueger found in a recent study that we are happiest when we engage in leisure activities.  Perhaps we should do more then?

Yet we are stuck believing play is for children, it has no place in an adult life. “Talking about adult play is kind of taboo in our culture”, says Lyn Barnett-Morris, of the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, and expert on the effects of play on personality. “We think it is a waste of time or that could be more productive doing other things- all sorts of dumb stuff”.

“The whole culture is suffering from over conscious intentionality, over seriousness, over emphasis on productivity and work,” said Bradford Keeney, psychologist and cultural explorer. “We have forgotten the whole picture requires a dance between leisure and work.”

You come back to life when you play. Play keeps us in touch with who we are. When we play we operate from the “true” self. 

“We need to reconnect with the things of our lives that ground us in who we really are and why we like our lives” University of Alabama‘s Catherine O’Keefe said.

So if you want to find happiness get out there and play!

 

Tags: happiness, play, leisure activities
Categories: Stuff