Benefits of Play During Stressful Times are more important than ever. Did you know that play is an essential activity? In his book, Essentialism, Greg McKeown states that Stewart Brown concluded, “that play has the power to significantly improve everything. From personal health, to relationships, to education, to organization, to the ability to create. Nothing fires up the brain like play.” This information became especially useful for me while facing the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.
How the Benefits of Play During Stressful Times Helped Me Cope
I work as a mailman. Each day, I’m out in the public trying my best to practice social distancing. Because I am considered essential, I’m on the frontlines, which increases my risk of infection. For weeks, I carried this worry in the back of my mind. Then, one day after finishing my shift, a coworker showed me her cellphone with the message, “someone tested positive here at the station.” Immediately, I realized I wouldn’t be returning to work for a while. Just the thought of contact with someone positive was overwhelming.
Earlier that week, a close family friend passed away from coronavirus. The thought of infecting my household was unbearable. So, on my first day off, I made calls and brainstormed ways to avoid burning my leave while still getting paid. This situation, along with the thought process, became extremely stressful. Indeed, it was exhausting. Eventually, I went to bed around 2 pm and spent the rest of the day there.
Choosing Play to Improve Mental Health
Instead of repeating this cycle—pondering what I lacked, worrying about what-ifs, and problem-solving uncertainty—I made a decision. I woke up the next day determined to think differently. Early that morning, I visited my lady’s house. Why there? Because I spent the whole day playing with her son. We played the board game Trouble, wrote poems, played Sonic on his Nintendo Switch, and hung out in his secret fort. I played! Deciding to let go of the world’s worries, I allowed myself to simply have fun.
What did play do? Inviting my younger self to join this vibrant young soul shifted my perspective and sparked creativity. From this space, this blog was born. My conclusion: while important decisions still awaited, they could wait until after I played.
Scientifically Proven Benefits of Play During Stressful Times
According to Helpingguide.org, the benefits of play include relieving stress, improving brain function, stimulating the mind, boosting creativity, improving relationships and connection to others, keeping you feeling young and energetic, developing social skills, teaching cooperation, and healing emotional wounds.
Have you neglected the “youth” within you and decided that “play” must take a back seat, especially during unprecedented, stressful, and uncertain times? What is your current relationship with play? We want to hear your voice; our community is eager to listen!
For more insights on the benefits of play during stressful times, visit this resource. If you want to reach out or need support, contact us here.