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Brett and Kate McKay
There’s definitely an aspect of play with video games, but for the sake of
stretching yourself today, pick something a little more creative and openended.
Play a pick-up game of basketball with your friends, a board game
with your wife, or a game of catch with your kid. Jam on your guitar or dust
off your skateboard. Take a hike or ride your bike.
Do something that society says you’re too old for, but you know deep
down absolutely still gives you joy. Make a slingshot; play with fireworks;
build and fly a paper airplane; play table football; skip a stone; fly a kite.
Keep in mind that some of the best play involves novelty, curiosity, and
most of all, exploration, whether of the limits of your body, new physical
locations, or the corners of your mind.
Remember, the purpose of play can’t be more important than the pleasure
you get from it. So you can go for a run, but you can’t bring a watch or
try to set a new PR. And you can tinker in the garage, but not because you
need to check changing your car’s oil off your to-do list. It must be something
that you’re doing simply for the fun of it.
For ideas about what to do for play, Dr. Brown recommends thinking
back to your fondest childhood memory of play and linking that memory
back to your present life. For example, if you used to love tag and kickball
then go play a pick-up game of some sport. And if you used to love being
read to at night, then read to your kid. If your favorite thing to do as a
kid was climb trees, go scramble over some rocks. If you used to endlessly
tinker with an erector set, work on a craft.
But of course don’t overthink this task too much; it’s play after all! Just
think about something that sounds fun and do it.
Finally, while today’s task it to set aside time for play, you should ideally
strive to make play an integrated part of your everyday life.
Now go play!
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