{"id":176,"date":"2025-03-25T20:15:11","date_gmt":"2025-03-25T12:15:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/saltnpepper.sg\/blog\/?p=176"},"modified":"2025-03-25T20:26:58","modified_gmt":"2025-03-25T12:26:58","slug":"why-adults-need-to-play-too","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/saltnpepper.sg\/blog\/2025\/03\/25\/why-adults-need-to-play-too\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Adults Need to Play (too)?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As we charge into adulting (and responsibilities), we some what quietly stop playing. We begin to classify play as something &#8220;childish&#8221; or &#8220;unproductive,&#8221; not realising that in losing play, we also lose something essential: joy, spontaneity, creativity, and connection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here&#8217;s the truth: <strong>adults need play just as much as children do<\/strong> \u2013 perhaps even more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Is Play?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Play doesn\u2019t mean toys or games (though it can include them). Play is any activity that is:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Done for its own sake (not for reward)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Voluntary and joyful<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Process-driven, not outcome-driven<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Full of exploration and curiosity<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That could be painting, building something, dancing, singing, storytelling, tinkering, anything that sparks joy really!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As we &#8220;grow up&#8221;, we traded play for productivity. We filled our schedules with busy. Consequently, we are now seeing a lot of posts on socials where burnout, stagnation, disconnection are common themes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When we stop playing, we stop experimenting. We stop discovering new parts of ourselves. We stop enjoying the journey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How Play Benefits Adults<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"1\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Boosts Creativity and Problem-Solving<\/strong><br>Dr. Stuart Brown, founder of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nifplay.org\">National Institute for Play<\/a>, found that play improves our ability to think outside the box. In fact, some of the most innovative companies (like Google and IDEO) have intentionally incorporated play into their work culture to spark creative breakthroughs.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Reduces Stress and Improves Mental Health<\/strong><br>Play activates the brain&#8217;s reward centre, reduces cortisol (the stress hormone), and increases positive emotions. According to a 2014 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.journalofplay.org\">study<\/a> published in <em>American Journal of Play<\/em>, adults who engage in playful activities report lower stress levels and greater life satisfaction.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Enhances Connection and Empathy<\/strong><br>Group play creates shared stories, laughter, and bonding. It softens social roles and builds psychological safety. Bren\u00e9 Brown highlights play as one of the key traits in wholehearted people \u2013 it helps us connect without performance pressure.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Supports Cognitive Flexibility<\/strong><br>Play challenges the brain to adapt, reframe, and explore new ideas. A <a href=\"https:\/\/www.psychologytoday.com\/us\/blog\/the-power-prime\/201209\/why-adults-need-play-too\">study<\/a> in <em>Psychology Today<\/em> noted that adults who make time for play have higher cognitive flexibility and better emotional regulation.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Happens When Adults Start Playing Again<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When we reintroduce play into our lives, a shift happens:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>We access new perspectives.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>We let go of perfectionism.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>We recall what matters to us.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>We find joy and energy again.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Play isn\u2019t an escape from life. It\u2019s a way to re-engage with life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1408\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/saltnpepper.sg\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/whisk_storyboard3fc55fba7894484489ef75e1c169c0.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-177\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><br>Play isn\u2019t childish. It\u2019s courageous.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In a world obsessed with outcomes, play brings us back to process. Play reminds us how to breathe. In times of uncertainty, play helps us find our footing. Playing requires no purpose, just joy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So yes, adults need play. And perhaps, it\u2019s just the missing piece you didn\u2019t know you were looking for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Play is important, and that&#8217;s why in my coaching practice, I use <strong>play<\/strong> as an integral part of the <strong>KoPlay Method<\/strong>. It\u2019s incredible to watch adults who walk in with career confusion, self-doubt, or emotional exhaustion light up when they start building with their hands. They tell stories, they share insights, they reflect.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Reflection: Where Could You Invite More Play?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ask yourself:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>When was the last time I did something <em>just for fun<\/em>?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>What kind of play did I enjoy as a child?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>What would &#8220;adult play&#8221; look like for me now?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Start small. Try something silly. Create something for no reason. Be curious. And notice what shifts (including emotionally). <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You can absolutely work on this exercise on your own or if you\u2019re feeling stuck and want to&nbsp;<strong>talk it out with someone<\/strong>, book a&nbsp;<strong>KoPlay Discovery Play Session<\/strong>&nbsp;with me at&nbsp;<a href=\"mailto:david@saltnpepper.sg\">david@saltnpepper.sg<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As we charge into adulting (and responsibilities), we some what quietly stop playing. We begin to classify play as something &#8220;childish&#8221; or &#8220;unproductive,&#8221; not realising that in losing play, we also lose something essential: joy, spontaneity, creativity, and connection. Here&#8217;s the truth: adults need play<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":178,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[194],"tags":[195,193],"class_list":["post-176","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-play","tag-adult-play","tag-play"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/saltnpepper.sg\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/176","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/saltnpepper.sg\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/saltnpepper.sg\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/saltnpepper.sg\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/saltnpepper.sg\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=176"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/saltnpepper.sg\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/176\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":183,"href":"https:\/\/saltnpepper.sg\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/176\/revisions\/183"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/saltnpepper.sg\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/178"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/saltnpepper.sg\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=176"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/saltnpepper.sg\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=176"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/saltnpepper.sg\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=176"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}