exists in the moment. It is also a bodily state of
relaxation and an uplifting and engaged emotional
state. Some say play is a spiritual state of profound
connection and joy. Play can be something we do by
ourselves or with others, but it is also something we
can watch others do. Play is often described as a time
when we feel most alive, yet we often take it for
granted and may completely forget about it. Play can
be entirely positive, or have a negative.
Most people believe that play is unproductive, and
therefore inferior to "productive" activities. Perhaps
this is because we equate play with feeling –happy
joyous feeling –that traditionally is seen as less
important than thinking. Many of us have lists, at
home and at the office, prioritizing tasks by how
productive they are. When we run out of time, we cut
the fun stuff and do the "productive" stuff because we
may feel guilty or bad if we play hooky or goof off by
playing a game of golf or chess, taking a hike in the
woods or daydreaming for an hour. New research on the
brain contradicts this cultural dismissal of play, by
emphasizing the importance of feelings and the
necessity of feeling safe and relaxed in order to
think clearly and productively. Play teaches us how to
manage and transform our "negative" emotions and
experiences; it supercharges learning, and is a
foundational factor in good mental and physical
health. And, it can make work more pleasurable.
How can play trigger the flow state?
Psychiatrist and writer Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi,
(pronounced "chicks send me high") studied play in
Sidney, Australia and described it as a flow state
that requires just the right balance of challenge and
opportunity. If the game is too hard or too easy, it
loses its sense of pleasure and fun. Maintaining a
flow state in games with others requires all
participants, regardless of age or ability, to feel
challenged, but not overwhelmed. Csikszentmihalyi's
research has been undertaken and confirmed in several
countries, and now reaches 250,000 surveys. In the
flow state we feel:
Why is play an important part of our lives?
Humans are designed by nature to play, and have played
throughout evolution. Playfulness is an inborn ability
that is hardwired into our genetic code. Play is part
of how humans have adapted and survived everywhere on
Earth, from the tropics to the great deserts to the
Arctic Circle. We want to play because it is
instinctive and fundamental to our existence; it is
one of the evolutionary mechanisms that enabled us to
develop as a species. Playing helps us survive by
connecting us to other human beings and to sources of
energy and excitement within ourselves. Play is
simultaneously a source of calmness and relaxation, as
well as a source of stimulation for the brain and
body.
Play will be important to our future. Some futurists
have said that we'll need to be more inventive,
creative, and flexible to handle the tasks, flow and
rhythm of life in this century and beyond. A sure (and
fun) way to develop these abilities is to play – with
your children and grandchildren, your officemates and
friends.
Why is it important to play at work?
When researchers follow pre-teen children's attitude
about play, they discovered that some children called
almost everything they did "play" while others called
almost everything they did "work". Reconnecting with
the children at the end of adolescence, the children
who thought of everything as play were more successful
and happier in school and were more content socially
than the people who saw everything as "work".
Success at work does not depend on the amount of time
you work. It depends upon the quality of work, and the
quality of work depends on the level of well-being of
the workers. The level of well-being depends
significantly on the how often they replenish
themselves through play in any of its forms. Work is
where we spend much of our time. That is why it is
especially important for us to play during work.
Without some recreation, our work suffers. Most of us
have been working faster, harder, and smarter, and
with diminishing free time. We first thought that
working faster, harder, and smarter would handle our
increased workload, but that is not the case. We still
got behind and became chronically overwhelmed. When
the project you're working on hits a serious glitch
(as they frequently do), heading out to the basketball
court with your colleagues to shoot some hoops and
have a few laughs does a lot more than take your mind
off the problem. If basketball isn't your cup of tea,
having a model airplane contest, telling stories, or
flying kites in the parking lot will also allow your
relationship to the problem to shift and enable you to
approach it from a new perspective. Interjecting play
into the work cycle:
keeps you sane and functional during times of stress;
refreshes your mind and body;
renews hope;
triggers creativity; and
increases energy.
Playing non-violent computer games can be a great way
to relax and combat stress, at home and at work, by
children and adults. There are many sites on the
Internet with free or resonable priced non-violent
computer games, such as:
Plaza ,
Games ,
Games or Amic
Games.