Broadcasts.com - "Play & Production" (Life is Work)

RESULT: To explore the concept of play, how we as adults drift away from it in favor of production, and how play is important to our well being, creativity, and self care.
Camnecdote
- Playing music, especially live - time doesn’t really work, and the goal is not to “finish the song” (well, kind of) but it’s more to play the song

Protein - Main Event - Topic d’jour

Play & Production
- What is play?
  - Engaging in an activity for the joy of it
  - Important process of lifelong development
    - And other animals do it!
      - Ex: Dogs using play to build trust & learn boundaries
  - Engages our brain in a unique way
    - Outcome is truly unimportant - different from other cultural messages
    - Joy & fun releases that good stuff in our brain
    - Usually involves laughter & movement of some sort - all good stuff
    - “Flow” - entering into a space where time is irrelevant
      - Ex. Soul movie
    - Social connection - most play is with others in some way
      - Creating healthy connections
        Ex. too competitive friends
  - Invaluable for combating stress
    - Relieving stress allows us to have energy to be able to produce better ideas
      - A numbers game - gotta have energy for our big brains to work properly
    - Ex. “Put it down & come back to it later”
- Why don’t adults play?
  - Wider cultural stories and norms
    - Egos & self consciousness
  - Too busy & exhausted
  - “That’s for kids”
  - We don’t understand how important it is
  - Gotta maximize our time for efficiency and productivity
  - We have “hobbies” instead
    - Hobbies can be play, but we often force hobbies to be productive, side hustles, and outcome focused
- How to build play into your lives
  - If you’ve got kids, lean in!
    - They’re gonna ask you a thousand times any way
    - You’re likely already doing it, just add in a little mindfulness!
  - Consider what hobbies bring you joy
    - How can you build them in?
    - Setting aside significant time to participate in them
  - Technical solutions
    - Ask others to join a fun activity (COVID safe)
      - Rec teams/informal park days
      - Murder mystery parties
      - Main Event/Dave & Busters type places
      - Escape Rooms
      - Paint nights
      - Board game cafes
    - Try a new thing & enjoy the process of learning and trying
      - Art class
      - Youtube tutorials
      - Legos - cam did this during quarantine
      - A new game/board games - learning the rules & strategy

Mel’s Mindful Minute: 34:45

Artist's Date

We Are Always Students

Youtube Tutorials
Fun activity in your community!

Sharing is Self-Caring

Self-care
- What activity, hobby, or event brings you joy? What takes you out of time?
Community-care
- How can you create space to play with your friends?
Systems-care
- Why isn’t play a more normal part of adult lives? How do organizations benefit, if at all, with us not playing?

Reach Out!

lifeisworkpod.com
- Find questions submission link
Instagram @ lifeisworkpod
Ko-Fi Coffee
info@palanteconsulting.com