Are There Playgrounds in Heaven?
The power of play to improve well-being and creativity and reduce stress in a busy world
The other night as I tucked my daughter into bed, she asked me: “Mama, are there playgrounds in heaven?”
I have found in my short few years as a mother that children are often the wisest philosophers. If you want deeply profound questions in your life, invite a child into it whether that be a friend’s child, a niece or nephew, or your own.
I paused, then confidently said, “Of course there are playgrounds in heaven!” To me, heaven means the happiest place you could be, so obviously there are playgrounds.
My daughter’s skepticism was visible.
“Heaven is a wonderful place where everyone is happy,” I assured her. “So of course, there are the most brilliant, giant, wonderful playgrounds you could ever imagine!” I said.
“No, I don’t think there are any playgrounds in heaven,” my daughter responded, even more confident than me.
“Why is that?” I inquired, very curious to know the answer.
“Because…there are too many old people there!”
I found her answer profound on so many levels, but I will focus on two. First, it strikes me that her version of heaven or good is entirely wrapped up in play. And second, in her short five years on earth she has already decided that playgrounds are only for children.
Of course, I am aware that her schema for playgrounds containing only children is very directly tied to the reality that nearly the only humans you see on the playground are children. Nevertheless, I was struck by the concept. We do sort of lose the art of play as we age, but by overlooking the need for play we lose out on its many benefits.
The science behind play
Interestingly, most of the research around play is very centered on its benefits for children’s development. Only more recently has research focused on the benefits of play among adults. Not surprisingly, research finds that playing is hugely beneficial for our well-being and mental health as adults. Playfulness is associated with lower levels of perceived stress and higher rates of using positive, adaptive coping strategies. The takeaway from one study with over 898 individuals was that playfulness provides individuals with the cognitive resources they need to cope effectively with stressful situations. In short, playfulness can serve as a means to create resilience in the face of stressors.
Playfulness is also associated with higher overall levels of well-being. One study found that adult playfulness is positively associated with life satisfaction (subjective well-being) as well as an inclination towards both pursuing enjoyable activities and leading a more active life (physical well-being). Not only is playfulness linked to multiple health benefits, it is also linked to higher levels of creativity, teamwork, humor, and an appreciation for beauty and excellence. Imagine the endless benefits of this for not only your own personal life enjoyment, but your contributions to the world and at work.
The theory behind why playfulness promotes well-being is that it not only offers pleasure but it also takes you out of the moment and focuses you, as an individual, on the experience of doing something enjoyable rather than achieving an outcome. Interestingly, adults who are more playful experience the same stressors as the rest of us, but they possess the ability not to take those stressors too seriously.
What often gets overlooked is that play is not only a means of learning, building cooperation, and overcoming stressors, but it’s a basic human need hard-wired into our brains. Did you know that you actually have a biological drive to play? That’s right – you have what are referred to as “play circuits” in your brain designed to engage you in playful activities. The consequences of failing to play are dire for children, including increased rates of depression, inflexibility, lack of empathy, poor impulse control, and even a tendency towards addictive behaviors. But failing to play as an adult can also negatively affect us. If you are finding yourself feeling grumpy, stuck in a rut or old way of thinking, or even feeling victimized by life, researchers on play warn that it’s your body and mind telling you that it’s time to play.
Play in a busy world
I had the chance to put into practice my idea that we should play more as adults on a recent business trip to Phoenix. I was headed there for the annual Society of Behavioral Medicine conference; a conference that is very busy for me being in various leadership meetings and research presentations. But I knew I was heading to a warm and sunny climate, a welcome respite for this sun-loving refugee from sun-starved Seattle. And so, amidst what I knew would be a very hectic work schedule, I threw in sunglasses, sunscreen, shorts, and swimsuit…just in case.
I purposefully peppered little moments of play throughout my time there. An hour sunbathing by the pool one day, a quick trip to the stunning Desert Botanical Gardens the next. And thanks to having wonderfully adventurous and playful friends there with me, I got roped into trying aerial yoga for the first time. I felt like a kid playing around on the sashes, totally lost in time just having fun.
Three things stuck out to me through this experience:
1. I absolutely had to schedule time and purposefully engage in these playful endeavors. There was no “free time” in my schedule. Work called and pulled on me in a million directions – both at the conference and in my actual workload. But I knew my time in this brilliant sunny climate was time limited, and so I committed to making the most of it.
2. Engaging in activities I am passionate about and trying new things were both essential to having the most fun. There were things I knew 100% I would show up to and love – dinner with good friends, an hour by the pool, a trip to the Botanical Gardens to see the lovely desert landscape my heart adores. I indulged in all of it. But equally important to feeling playful was adding novelty and adventure to the mix. Aerial yoga was something I was excited but a little nervous to try – and that newness, that learning in an environment where the stakes were really, really low got me outside of my box and actually playing. Even the botanical gardens had a splash of adventure – it was somewhere and something entirely new. I was seeing things I had never encountered before (landscapes and plant life), and it was so full of joy and fun.
3. The art of play is to focus on how good, not how productive, it makes you feel. It is so hard in our current productivity-obsessed Western culture to focus on the mere art of enjoyment. Everything, even “fun” activities need to feel like they bring something productive with it. Yoga should feel also like exercise burning calories. Brainstorming feels like it should lead to an outcome. Even adventures can feel like hitting a checklist of “things you must do/see.” But watch children play- they have no agenda other than enjoyment. They have no focus other than being engaged in the art of play right now. That is the key to playing.
How to play
Critical to integrating this need for play is making it part of your daily or weekly life rhythms. Like me, you might find yourself getting caught in the habit of only playing when you’re on vacation or away on a work trip. But scientists urge you to integrate it into your normal routine, like mindfulness or good sleep habits. The possibilities are endless, but you can start with things you liked as a child whether that was art, music, exercise, or time outdoors. Or you can try new things and explore new possibilities of play. Like exercise or mindfulness, you can schedule time daily (even 10-15 minutes) to do something playful. Set the timer and then don’t look at it again. Focus on being present in the joy of the moment.
Dr. Stuart Brown, who is a researcher that founded the National Institute for Play, provides excellent tips on how to make playing an integral and consistent part of your life as an adult. This includes:
1. Finding your play personality to figure out what types of activities you find playful.
2. Considering how you like to play (e.g., body movement, social play).
3. Trying something that sounds fun.
For more fun information on play, check out Dr. Stuart’s website on play or his library of play, which contains tons more information behind the science of play.
The science is clear that there are a multitude of benefits for play, so make time in your calendar this week to do something playful.