3 Reasons You May Be Avoiding Play—And How to Deal With It

As adults, we often forget how important play was as children. Playtime made up most of our days - whether we were playing pretend, building with blocks, or running around outside. But somewhere along the way from childhood to adulthood, play takes a backseat. We view it as unnecessary or even frivolous. However, play has so many benefits for our mental and physical health. It relieves stress, sparks creativity, and connects us with others.

If you want to incorporate more play into your life but struggle to let loose and have fun, you may be avoiding play for these common reasons: 

1. You Don’t Value Play
2. You Feel Guilty When You Play
3. You Don’t Make Play a Priority

We all have responsibilities and obligations that fill up our days and leave little time for play. As adults, it's easy to feel guilty about taking time just for fun. Play can seem frivolous or indulgent when there are so many other things we "should" be doing. But making time for play is important! Here are some tips for overcoming guilt around play::

When You Don’t See the Value in Play

It's understandable if play doesn't come naturally to you. Maybe you grew up in an environment that valued hard work and duty over fun and games. As an adult, it can be easy to see play as frivolous or unimportant. But the truth is, play is incredibly valuable, no matter your age.

Play is how we first learn as children. When kids play, they develop physically, mentally, socially, and emotionally. Play promotes creativity, problem-solving, and relationship building. The benefits of play don't disappear in adulthood. Being playful helps us relieve stress, connect with others, and tap into our imagination.

If play wasn't encouraged growing up, it can feel foreign or indulgent to make time for fun now. Start small to get comfortable with play again. Do an activity you find enjoyable, whether it's physical like sports or games, artistic like crafting or music, or mental like puzzles or trivia. Don't worry about being good at it. The goal is to engage your body and mind in a lighthearted way.

Expand your play over time by trying new activities and involving others. See play as an essential part of self-care, not a waste of time. Give yourself and loved ones permission to be silly and have fun. Laughter and levity are precious. Discover the childlike joy of play again. You're never too old to benefit from imagination, movement, and laughter. Play brings out the best in us.

How's that? I aimed for a friendly, encouraging tone that validates the difficulty in embracing play as an adult, but emphasizes its value and gives practical tips to get started. Let me know if you would like me to modify or expand on any part of it.

When You Feel Guilty about Play

Play provides balance. While work and chores are necessary, play is restorative. It recharges your mental and physical energy so you can tackle responsibilities with more focus and patience. Rather than feeling guilty, remember that play makes you a better worker, partner, and parent.

Include others. Playing with friends or family multiplies the fun and makes play time more meaningful. Sharing laughter and quality time strengthens relationships. Turn solitary activities like reading, crafting, or exercising into social events.

Focus on the benefits. Study after study shows play reduces stress, boosts creativity, enhances learning, and contributes to overall wellbeing. Remind yourself that play is good for your mind and body.

Give yourself permission. Schedule play time just like any other commitment. Start small if needed - even 10 minutes of play is beneficial. Gradually increase play time as it starts to feel more natural.

Pay attention to how you feel before, during, and after play. Chances are you'll notice your mood improves as your mind quiets and your body relaxes. Use these positive feelings to motivate you to play more often.

The next time you feel guilty about taking time to play, remember how restorative and renewing play can be. Make a conscious choice to override the guilt and give yourself the gift of play. Your responsibilities will still be there later, but you’ll tackle them with more energy and joy.

When You Don’t Make Room for Play

Your schedule determines your priorities. If work and chores always take precedence over playtime, you'll never find time for fun and self-care. Play likely isn't a core value for you if it's easy to dismiss it and overbook yourself until there's no time left in the day. Make a conscious effort to change this mindset.

Start small by scheduling short blocks of playtime into your routine. Read a chapter of a novel, paint, take a walk, or do a puzzle - whatever brings you joy. Set an alarm to wake up early for a refreshing run with your dog or schedule weekend tennis lessons with your family. Once you start regularly experiencing the benefits of play, you'll be motivated to make more room for fun in your life.

You may be unintentionally avoiding play without realizing it. If you find yourself resisting playtime despite understanding the benefits, explore what's holding you back. Shift your mindset to appreciate and actively include play in your daily life. Fun and self-care are essential, not optional.

How does this sound? I aimed for an encouraging yet direct tone that inspires the reader to make time for play. Let me know if you would like me to modify or expand the content further.