Rediscover Joy Through Play

The Greater Good Science Center on Adult Play: Boost Mood, Reduce Stress, and Renew Energy

We often think of play as a childhood pastime, but it is an essential component of self-care for adults, too. Engaging in activities purely for fun—whether it’s a hobby, a sport, a game, or creative play—is a powerful way to enhance your mental and emotional wellbeing.

The Adult Benefits of Play

The positive effects of play are backed by research. According to the Greater Good Science Center, activities that bring you genuine joy are vital because they:

• Boost Mood: Play releases endorphins and dopamine, chemicals associated with happiness and pleasure.

  
  

• Reduce Stress: It serves as a healthy distraction, shifting your mind away from stressors and allowing your nervous system to relax.

  
  

• Renew Energy: Play isn't draining; it’s an active way to recharge your mental batteries and return to your daily tasks with a fresh perspective.

  
  

• Improve Relationships: Shared fun is a powerful form of connection and communication that strengthens bonds with friends and family.

Embracing Play as a Self-Care Essential

You don't need a playground to play. Incorporating play into your adult life is a necessary act of self-care:

1. Define Your Joy: What did you love to do as a child? What hobby makes you lose track of time now? Prioritize that activity.

   
   

2. Schedule It In: Treat play time as seriously as you would any other important appointment. Block out time in your week for your chosen activity.

   
   

3. Be Unproductive: The goal of play is joy and fun, not achievement or a perfect outcome. Allow yourself to be messy, silly, and entirely unproductive.

   
   

Embrace play as a vital tool for emotional health. It is one of the most joyful and effective ways to reduce stress and renew your energy.