In a society that values goals and results, it’s easy to see why play isn’t valued by adults.
Play is a state more than it is a thing. Play involves doing something enjoyable for its own sake. There is no goal aside from enjoying the experience.
But, play is not a trivial activity: play makes people happier, it helps develop empathy, it reduces stress, and it strengthens resolve.
This is especially advantageous in a business environment where success often depends on people working well together and being involved in very stressful activities.
Play gives people the ability to interact more peacefully and productively with others; people who regularly engage in play don’t feel stress to the same degree as people who don’t; and it makes people more creative.
Even though play is unserious, it helps us accomplish many serious things by changing our mindsets and attitudes: Getting along with others and dealing with stress more easily translates into a greater sense of well being. Having a greater sense of well-being translates into more effective performance.
Play also creates a more agile mind that is more adept at creating new associations—a skill that is at the heart of creativity.
That sounds like a pretty valuable activity.
Introducing play into a working environment isn’t hard and can have a huge payoff. It can be as simple as having puzzles on conference room tables or scattered throughout the office and encouraging people to take time to play with them; creating a game league at the office; or encouraging people to take breaks away from their desks and engage in quick games like tactile puzzles or number games.
Go forth and play!
(Check out our buddies over at artofplay.com for some cool puzzles. We don’t make any money off their sales, but we think their stuff is really cool.)