Play is an essential part of your humanity. Whether it's through games, sports, creative arts, or simply playful interactions, make time for play and experience the multitude of benefits it brings to your overall well-being. Your inner child is ready to come out and play, and your adult self will thank you for it.

Dear Spirited Earthling,

Adulthood is full of responsibilities, pressures, and oftentimes monotony – and it is easy to feel like there is little to no ‘play time’. In fact, it almost seems to be discouraged in adult life for it is seen as unimportant, indulgent, silly, and perhaps immature and irresponsible. So, coming across this post dedicated to rediscovering play as an adult may seem preposterous. I can assure you that it is not. Rather than seeing it as an outlandish idea, see it as something that many, many people need. Regardless of age, play enriches your life, renews your sense of awe and wonder, helps manage stress and encourages relaxation. Learning to rediscover play as an adult will be the gift that keeps on giving, the adventure that is never-ending, and the joy to be found in any day.

“All grown-ups were once children... but only few of them remember it.” ~ Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, The Little Prince

The Importance of Play

Mental health professionals highlight three pillars of mental health: love, work, and play. Each of these pillars is important on its own, but is also deeply interlinked with each other and together contribute to more wholesome mental and physical health. Play therapy can be as powerful as talk therapy.

It is said that joy, play and spontaneity are a core part of human nature. Naturally, play is intertwined with joy and spontaneity, so a session of play can lift your spirit, encourage a more optimistic outlook, and even help navigate challenging situations with resilience and humour. Humans (and other animals) played to survive, with anthropological evidence suggesting that ‘play was used not to escape from, but to confront and cope with, the dangers and difficulties of a life that is not always easy.’ Although our dangers and difficulties look different to those of hunter-gatherer ancestors, this truth remains – play can help lessen feelings of stress and anxiety because it is a respite from the complexities of life and an opportunity to reconnect with the joy of living.

What does play look like as an adult? Play could be anything from crafting, to being on stage, to playing with pets, to dressing up for Halloween. It is a chance to connect with your inner child, your most authentic self. Shared play, like through sports and role-playing games, can improve your social competence (ability to bond, trust, communicate with others) while having fun. Play becomes a universal language that allows you to connect with others on a deeper level.

How to Rediscover Play as an Adult

Rediscovering play as an adult doesn’t mean jumping on jumping castles or playing Tag (though it definitely could), it could also be having a tea party or drawing your favourite cartoon characters. In essence, play becomes what makes you feel better and relaxes you. These ideas can help you rediscover play as an adult and reconnect (even heal) with your inner child:

Revisit Childhood Hobbies: Think back to your childhood and what you loved to do. If your childhood was hard and tumultuous, ask your inner child what they longed or wished to do. It could have been taking a sketchpad everywhere with you so you could doodle, or the excitement of learning to play a new song on the guitar or riding your bike around the neighbourhood. Revisit these beloved pastimes and think how you can do more of that. Get yourself a sketch pad, pick up the guitar again, hire a bicycle on a Sunday morning.
Try New Activities: Doing something new challenges you and stimulates your brain and curiosity. Get out of your comfort zone and do something different. Attend an adult dance class or a follow along to one online. Try your hand at juggling and practice poi. Read or watch tutorials and sew something or get on that DIY project you’ve been contemplating.
Engage in Social Play: Connecting with new people and strengthening friendships is an important part of life and your personal well-being. Join a sports team or club, to learn a sport or play one you know. Organise game nights and girls/boys night once a month. Go for after work drinks and sign up for team building activities.
Bring Play into Daily Routine: There can be small ways to bring play into your daily routine. Play with your pet, try dance-based workouts, doodle instead of scrolling, solve a puzzle during breaks and with your morning or evening cup of tea.
Embrace Mindfulness and Spontaneity: Mindfulness is not just meditation and journaling, it’s simply being present in a moment. Take an impromptu walk in the park during lunch, close the office door and have a quick dance party, get off the bus one stop earlier and admire the trees along your path home.

Rediscovering play as an adult is not about regressing to childhood, but about reclaiming an essential part of your humanity and personal history. It’s about finding joy in the present moment, welcoming creativity, and building human connection. By making time for play, you can bring a sense of lightness and joy to your everyday.

Overcoming Barriers to Play

One of the biggest barriers to engaging in play as an adult is your mindset around it. Many people tend to see play as a frivolous luxury that is unproductive and unnecessary, especially in a busy, work-driven lifestyle. However, it is essential to reframe this perception and recognise play as an accessible and absolutely necessary part of life. Allowing yourself time to play will lead to becoming a happier and more energetic person. This is because having an appreciation for life and doing things that make you happy is always a good thing. By incorporating more play into your daily life, you create opportunities for joy, creativity, and relaxation, which contribute to a more fulfilling and balanced life.

Play Ideas for Adults

As said previously, think about what you loved to do as a child or what you always wanted to try. Let that be your starting point and go where your imagination and creativity takes you. Play is more than playing with toys, it’s imagination and creativity and daring to do things. There’s curiosity and the need to know things, like the names of every dinosaur and planet. This diverse list of playful activities can help you rediscover the joy of play as an adult:

Creative Play

Drawing or Painting: Grab some art supplies and let your creativity flow without worrying about the end result.
Crafting: Try your hand at DIY projects, knitting, scrapbooking, ceramics, or woodworking.
Writing: Write a short story, poem, or start a journal with a playful twist.
Photography: Explore your surroundings with a camera, capturing moments that bring you joy. Try capture ordinary objects in interesting moments. Start a self-portrait series. Try out different types of photography (macro, micro, portrait, landscape).
Playing Musical Instruments: Dust off an old instrument or learn a new one. Learn songs from new genres of music, expanding your taste.
Cooking or Baking: Experiment with new recipes or create playful, themed meals. Attend classes or follow along to online classes.
Sewing: Sew an item of clothing for yourself. Practice mending, learn to knit new stitches, try your hand at embroidery.

Physical Play

Dancing: Dance like no one’s watching, whether it’s in a class, at a party, or in your living room.
Yoga or Pilates: Choose playful, fluid movements and try new poses.
Sports: Join a local sports club or play a casual game with friends.
Outdoor Adventures: Go hiking, cycling, or rock climbing.
Fitness Challenges: Try fun exercise challenges and involve friends and family for a social side.
Personal Strength: Take self-defence classes or try martial arts.

Social Play

Board Games or Card Games: Host a game night with friends or family.
Book Club: Host or join a book club.
Movie Nights: Host and participate in a movie night tradition and explore different cinematic genres.
Trivia Nights: Participate in trivia events at local venues or online.
Escape Rooms: Work with a team to solve puzzles and escape themed rooms.
Themed Parties: Throw a costume party or a themed dinner party. Attend cosplay and fan conventions.
Improv or Acting: Take an improv class or participate in amateur theatre.
Paint and Sip: Host a painting evening and sip on something chilled or warm.

Solo Play

Puzzles: Solve puzzles, crosswords, Sudoku, riddles, or brain teasers.
Video Games: Play your favourite video games or try new ones.
Magic: Learn magic tricks.
Reading for Pleasure: Dive into a comedic or adventure novel, reimagine known works with fanfiction and enjoy your favourite comics.
Gardening: Plant flowers, vegetables, or create a whimsical garden space.
Learn: Look up a favourite place, era, and activity. Learn where it started, what happened, and where it is now.

Mindful Play

Meditative Colouring: Use adult colouring books to relax and unwind.
Walking in Nature: Take leisurely walks and enjoy the beauty around you.
Bird Watching: Spend time observing and identifying different bird species.
Stargazing: Look at the night sky and learn about the constellations above you and how they differ from somewhere else.
Language: Learn a new language or rediscover of one you knew.

Play with Others

Playing with Pets: Spend time playing fetch, tug-of-war, or simply enjoying your pet’s company.
Group Fitness Classes: Join classes like Zumba, kickboxing, or aerobics that incorporate fun and movement.
Picnics and Outdoor Games: Organize picnics with friends and play games like frisbee, badminton, or bocce ball.
Arcade: Go to an arcade and play your favourite games and try the new ones.

Adventurous Play

Travel and Exploration: Visit new places, whether it’s a new city, a museum, or a hiking trail.
Outdoors Friends Getaway: Plan a camping trip with friends.
Amusement Parks: Spend a day at a theme park, enjoying rides and attractions.
Geocaching: Participate in this global treasure hunt using GPS devices.

Most of these ideas are very easy to incorporate into your routines. Find the fun in learning more about what play makes you happiest as you approach each activity with an open mind and a playful spirit.

Rediscovering the essence of play as an adult is not about regressing to a state of childhood or abandoning adult responsibilities; rather, it's about reclaiming an essential part of your humanity that has perhaps been neglected. Your inner child is ready to come out and play, and your adult self will thank you for it.

Spirited Earthling is more than just a blog – it's a gathering place for kindred spirits drawn by an interest in self-discovery, the appeal of self-care, and a desire for a deeper connection to the world. Written and created for curious minds and spiritual hearts seeking meaning in everyday life, this blog aims to help you curate your wholesome personal growth with free weekly ideas and affordable resources for sale.

As you navigate your personal growth journey using the words and ideas shared here, consider sharing this blog with someone looking for inspiration or motivation on their own journey. We are all spirited earthlings, and can lift each other together with mindful, connected living.

Thank you for being part of this community.

Best wishes, warmest regards

Jordan

[Updated in 2025]

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How to Rediscover Play as an Adult and Ideas for Play