Don't Forget to Play

Here we are: seven months into a pandemic, days before a big election and heading into the holiday season for the weirdest, wildest year in my lifetime thus far.

How are you handling it?

I was doing okay until a few weeks ago, when it seemed like the gravity of everything going on—plus my own stuff added in for extra fun—came to a head. I have plenty to be thankful for, but life just isn’t easy and light these days.

And it may not change for awhile.

For me, the tough parts are the monotony of the day-to-day and the uncertainty of when things might turn a corner. I find myself craving connection with people, and when Zoom fatigue has us 8-to-5ers drained by the end of the work day, it’s hard to want to jump on another video call with friends for a virtual get-together.

In times like this when everything seems heavy and dark, we have to create the light.

We can’t forget to make time for play, whatever that looks like for us. Taking ourselves too seriously only leads to stress and disappointment, which has negative effects on those around us. Keeping things light and infusing humor into work can actually make us more successful.

What does ‘play’ look like for adults?

For me, it looks like trading ideas and collaborating with my bandmate for our ongoing musical project. It looks like cracking jokes with coworkers when appropriate and acting silly with my husband (see my ridiculous Instagram stories for proof).

‘Play’ can look like dancing around the house in your socks, playing backyard sports with your kids, or sitting down with a coloring book. The joy has to come from the activity itself and not the outcome: this is what makes it ‘play’ and not ‘work’. True ‘play’ doesn’t have a competitive element to it.

The seriousness of everything going on right now needs a counterweight; the ‘yin’ needs a ‘yang’ to balance it out. Play also cultivates joy and healing—who doesn’t need more of that right now?

So don’t forget to let loose and be silly now and again. Making time for play and creativity is crucial for a well-rounded existence. It makes your work—and your life—so much better.

(The image from this post is a screenshot of coworkers on our virtual Halloween celebration. Even with a 100%-remote team, people got into the spirit and it was a great event. Although I failed to place in our costume contest, it was well worth the effort: it’s a blast working with so many fun, creative folks who aren’t afraid to play!)