I know what you’re thinking. “Play? Seriously? I can’t take time to play – my moments of energy need to be spent on cleaning the house, my job, etc. Play just doesn’t make it on the to-do list.”
Self-care is vitally important to our health. Most of us will agree to that. But we limit “self-care” to be taking our meds, eating healthy, etc. But play doesn’t make it on our self-care agenda. We live in a society that views exhaustion as a well-earned badge worn by productive people. Play is often seen as a waste of time.
What if I told you play could improve your health?
In his book Essentialism, The Disciplined Pursuit of Less, Greg Mckeown writes this…
Stuart Brown, the founder of the National Institute for Play, has studied what are called the play histories of some six thousand individuals and has concluded that play has the power to significantly improve everything from personal health to relationships to education to organizations’ ability to innovate. “Play,” he says, “leads to brain plasticity, adaptability, and creativity.” As he succinctly puts it, “Nothing fires up the brain like play.
He also shares how Columbus was playing when he realized the earth was round. Newton was playing when he discovered gravity. Watson and Crick found the DNA double helix while playing. Einstein thought of experiments as examples of allowing yourself time to play.
What if play revealed a way you can ease your pain, or simply allowed your stress hormones to take a breather and give you an overall calming feeling?
Play is essential!
No one can function at full throttle constantly. Everyone needs some downtime.
You may feel that you have to endure too much downtime already – time spent in bed, on the couch, and just plain on our butts! Our illness seems to provide us with plenty of downtime, doesn’t it? I don’t know about you, but the time I have to spend on the sidelines of life due to my illness sure aren’t enjoyable times for me.
I’m not simply talking about downtime. I’m talking about PLAY. The kind of activity that gives your body time to de-stress. Time spent on something you enjoy that helps to rejuvenate your body and mind.
So where do you even begin?
It’s hard to come up with ideas while you’re stuck in the recliner waiting for your meds to kick in and offer some relief. I get that. Really, I do. But let’s try to see if play could give us a bit of relief as well.
Start here.
What did you do when you were a kid? Did you like to write stories? Try starting a blog. Let me know if you do, I’d love to read it!
Did you like to color or paint? Try something artistic. Michael Hyatt’s wife Gail always said she wasn’t a very artistic person. One night she went with a group of friends to a painting class and got hooked. Now she paints and even sells her paintings online. You can find them here on her Pinterest board. Still, think painting is beyond your abilities? Adult color books are all the rage now. Why not pick up one of those!
Did you enjoy music? Try taking piano lessons. You’re never too old to learn a new skill.
Try a craft of some sort. If you loved to scrapbook but can’t seem to find the energy anymore to get everything out and put it back away, jump over to Shutterfly and make a photo book. Go to the craft store and pick up a craft kit to make Christmas ornaments.
Put a puzzle together! Try anything that would give you some pleasure and allow your brain to focus on something fun and enjoyable.
Pick a card or board game to play with your family. We’re actually on a Euchre kick right now! Just a couple of hands and laughter is all I need.
Take a mental vacation from your illness. PLAY! #chronicillness #invisibleillness #spoonie
