When’s the last time you got your hands dirty?

In his book Play: How it Shapes the Brain, Opens the Imagination, and Invigorates the Soul, Dr. Stuart Brown explains that a lack of play is similar to a lack of sleep. Just as all humans need to sleep, they also need time to play. This is not just for little kids – this means grown ups too. Creative play is joyful, stress-relieving AND can translate to surprising gains in your current day-to-day. 

How? One immediate way is by adopting a playful mindset. When approaching a problem or a task, or really anything that has you feeling UGH, try asking yourself this simple question:

What would this look like if it were PLAYFUL?

Simply considering this easy breezy query can open up all kinds of new creative possiblitiies (and sure, probably some horrible ideas too). But merely entertaining the thought loosens your grip on the One Way of Doing This. It’s a move in the right direction. 

You may already know the myriad benefits of play. A few to reiterate: less stress, improved brain function, stronger relationships, But the reason to play isn’t for the ROI. Play because it brings you JOI. (Joy On Investment– yep, totally just made that up.) Silly, yes, but also, I mean it. 

What would this look like if it were PLAYFUL?

See what happens when you drop that question into a tough spot, and let me know what happens for you.