Get Out and Play

They say “everything in moderation”.

Often we attribute this to nutrition, but have you ever considered this for work-life balance?

It’s important to work as hard at your downtime as it is for your work. If you don’t allow yourself the time to rest and relax, your body will never be able to keep up and you’ll find yourself burnt out.

One of the things we often don’t allow ourselves to do is play or let our brains roam free. We try so hard to keep our brains reigned in and focused on what’s in front of us that sometimes we forget the importance of freedom and creative thought.

There are many studies that show that play can be therapeutic for adults and children alike. Regular play and creativity can boost self-esteem, foster relationships and even decrease signs of depression according to one study.

What can I do?

There is no limit to how you can use your downtime to play and explore your creativity. Ultimately, find something that interests you and brings you joy and you can’t go wrong.

In case you’re stuck, here are a few examples to get you started:

• Art

  • Water colors, paint, sculpting, pottery, colored pencils, digital, photography, etc.

• Crafting

  • Knitting, crochet, jewelry making, wood working, coding, etc.

• Games

  • Board games, role playing games, group games, puzzles, etc.

• Creative writing

• Sports

The list is really only limited by your interest and imagination. The important thing is to find something you enjoy and find ways to incorporate it into your day.

So, what are you waiting for? Go play!

From the Archives: The ADHD Podcast—Ep 244: Having Fun with Kirsten Milliken - Kirsten shares the playfulness mindset, and offers tools and strategies for engaging the playful part inside all of us to help us deliver in coordination with our ADHD, and not in competition with it!

Thank you for your time and attention,

-Nikki