5 Ways to Play That Have Nothing to Do With Games (or children)

When was the last time you played for no reason? Not to bond with your kids. Not because someone told you it would lower your cortisol. Just because it brought you joy?

We’re so good at squeezing play into “acceptable” adult containers—like games at a work retreat or maybe a yoga class with a playlist. But real, soul-feeding play doesn’t always fit into a tidy box. Sometimes it’s messy, loud, awkward, or completely unproductive. And sometimes, that’s exactly what we need.

For me, play often shows up when I least expect it. It’s in the way I sing nonsense songs loud and proud while cleaning the kitchen. Or how I throw on a playlist and suddenly I’m dancing like no one’s watching (even though the cat clearly is). Those little moments? That’s Spirit reminding me I’m still alive.

And here’s the thing: play isn’t just fluff. It’s deeply healing. Research shows that play improves brain function, reduces stress, boosts creativity, and even strengthens relationships (Brown & Vaughan, 2009; Yogman et al., 2018). If you’ve been craving more lightness in your life, this is your invitation.

Let’s reclaim it—on our terms.

5 Ways to Play (No Kids or Games Required)

1. Creative Experimentation

Doodle with markers. Rearrange your bookshelf by color. Paint with your fingers. No outcome required. Just engage with materials like a curious kid and let it be whatever it is.

2. Physical Play for Grown Folks

Try skipping, hula-hooping, or rolling around on your living room floor. If it feels awkward or silly, perfect. That means it’s working.

3. Playing With Sound

Make up a song about brushing your teeth. Hum your to-do list. Laugh while doing chores. Sound can be playful too—and it shifts the mood quickly.

4. Imaginative Play for the Restless Mind

Narrate your life like you’re in a documentary. Pretend you’re on a cooking show while you make dinner. Your imagination still works—let it come out and play.

5. Connective Play Text a friend a goofy selfie. Have a meme war. Make a ridiculous inside joke and run with it. Play is medicine, especially when it’s shared.

Try This

Choose one form of play from this list. Try it today for just 5 minutes. Then hit reply and tell me: What did it unlock for you? This blog is inspired by Cultivating Inner Peace. If you're exploring what it means to feel light, whole, and connected again, the book will walk you deeper. Find it HERE.

References

Brown, S., & Vaughan, C. (2009). Play: How it Shapes the Brain, Opens the Imagination, and Invigorates the Soul.

Avery. Yogman, M., Garner, A., Hutchinson, J., Hirsh-Pasek, K., & Golinkoff, R. M. (2018). The power of play: A pediatric role in enhancing development in young children. Pediatrics, 142(3), e20182058.