Why Play can be your Secret Weapon!

​Have ​you ​ever ​realised ​it's ​been ​weeks ​since ​you ​did ​something ​just ​for ​fun?

Today ​we're ​talking ​about ​the ​power ​of ​play ​and ​why ​it's ​not ​just ​for ​the ​kids. ​When ​was ​the ​last ​time ​you ​danced ​in ​the ​kitchen, ​sang ​at ​the ​top ​of ​your ​lungs, ​or ​simply ​wasted ​some ​time ​without ​feeling ​guilty?

When ​fun ​becomes ​an ​afterthought, ​your ​nervous ​system ​starts ​to ​forget ​what ​it ​feels ​like ​to ​be ​light, ​free ​and ​joyful. ​Especially ​when ​you're ​dealing ​with ​yet ​another ​wet ​day ​during ​the ​long ​winter ​season. ​

​Fun ​isn't ​frivolous. ​It ​boosts ​dopamine, ​helps ​regulate ​mood ​and ​fights ​burnouti - n ​short, ​it's ​brain ​juice, ​not ​a ​bonus. Here ​are ​three ​ways ​that ​adults can ​play ​more. ​

Number ​one, ​pull out a card game ​or ​make ​something ​crafty. ​Number ​two, ​laugh ​out ​loud ​by ​sharing ​a ​silly ​video ​that ​you ​love - ​fat ​cats ​navigating ​cat ​doors ​always ​works ​for ​me! And ​number ​three, ​give ​yourself ​permission ​for ​10 ​minutes ​to ​be ​unproductive ​- on purpose (eek!) ​

Tell ​yourself ​this. ​I'm ​not ​wasting ​time, I'm ​fueling ​the ​fun ​parts ​of ​my ​brain. ​Your ​nervous ​system ​needs ​play. ​It's ​how ​it ​remembers ​that ​it's ​not ​just ​surviving, ​it's ​actually ​allowed ​to ​enjoy ​the ​ride. ​Because ​that, ​my ​friend, ​is ​working ​well ​by ​being ​kind ​to ​your ​mind.

Julia Grace

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