I tried to list the ways I’ve incorporated play into my days recently, but sadly, I came up with…nothing!! (Unless planning an elaborate costume-outfit for the Eras tour counts? An actual bunch of dried lavender is involved.) My days are instead filled with working, cooking, doing household chores, reading, or watching a show. Nothing too out of the ordinary or playful. I imagine I’m not the only one: As adults, play is discouraged as we trudge through our lists and must-dos for the day. 

Still, play can be a special tool for reframing our world. As NYT bestselling author and business strategist Greg McKeown writes in his book Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less, play “expands our minds in ways that allow us to explore to germinate new ideas or see old ideas in a new light… Play makes us more inquisitive, more attuned to novelty, more engaged.”

So what exactly counts as play, and how can we make more space for it? To me, it involves creatively breaking out of convention to generate a bit of joy for the sake of joy, and nothing else. As reader Charlotte B. shared in an email, “Playfulness is a mindset and keeping an eye open for opportunities—walking along a wall, throwing something you could pass, having a race. It also takes confidence! Not minding that people might look at you a bit oddly!”

The thing about play is that there’s an opportunity to fold it into our existing routines. It doesn’t have to be something big or grand. Maybe it’s taking just 5 minutes to doodle something goofy each morning, seeing how quickly you can finish the NYT mini crossword, or cutting fruit into little heart shapes just because it brings you joy. 

If you’re looking for a little playful inspo, we’ve rounded up some lively ideas our readers sent in, below. Enjoy! —Alisha Ramos, founder at GNI 

This Week's Picks

A joyful snap from Vogue Korea by photographer Min Hyunwoo.
 

How Our Readers Are Inviting Playfulness Into Their Routines

A few weeks ago, we asked how you’re incorporating more “play” into your daily life. We received a bunch of fun ideas: lots of music, movement, getting back into childhood things, and making things with our hands for fun. Enjoy, and let us know if you try any of these ideas out!

“I work from home. When I feel stressed or tired, I turn up the volume and dance my heart out—leaving no silly dance move behind. Something about the music, movement, and playfulness of dance always puts a smile back on my face.”—Rebecca S.

“I bought a hula hoop in 2021 and it brings me so much joy. It's super sparkly and it's been fun to learn other ways to use it beyond the traditional around the hips. I bought the hula hoop from this company mostly because they had the prettiest options of any I could find and they had great information about sizing—the ones we usually see are sized for children. I'm thinking about getting one of their LED ones next!”—Megan B.

Reader Channelle B. writes: “I love playfulness more and more as I get older, I feel like it lets you reconnect with your inner child, and enjoy things you didn't get to have the first time!” Her shoutouts include cute JellyCat plush toys, revisiting “teenage TV” like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and picking gymnastics back up as an adult.

“Playtime isn't just for kids—it's for everyone. My 2-year-old daughter Aya reminds me to incorporate playfulness into my daily routine. She reminds me to slow down and take the time to enjoy the little moments—and that it's OK to bust out dancing in the middle of dinner meal prep. Play doesn't have to be for special moments; it's really a way of living and the foundation for the good life.”—Trisha O. (whose small biz makes the coolest “Nap Earrings,” btw)

“I recently got married, and my husband and I have since instituted a rule that anytime we hear our wedding song, we simply *must* drop whatever we're doing to dance to it. "Rules" and playfulness don't normally go hand-in-hand, but it's led to so many silly, laughable moments (like having to screech "Quick, dip me now before the pasta boils over!"), reminding me that even after 10 years together, we're still just big goobers at heart :).” —Kate M.

“When I moved into a new apartment, my splurge was a desk that doubles as a vanity. Not only does it make getting ready an EVENT — it also encourages me to get playful and fun with my makeup because it’s all on display.”—Gabrielle G. 

“Snapchat filters with my niece, throughout the week. The weirder, the better!”—Jennifer H.

“Every month, I make a new playlist of really fun dance/pop music (could be anything from NSYNC to Charli XCX) that I only use when I get ready in the morning. I play it from the moment I hop in the shower until the moment I start working. By the end of the year, I've got 12 new playlists that give me pure joy!”—Felicia R.

“I listen to music I would normally dance to at clubs in my 20s growing up in Miami except now during my runs in my 30s jaja. I picked up pottery! There’s something about throwing on the wheel, getting hands dirty, and making something with them that feels like play.” —Monica P.

Thanks to everyone who wrote in!