Playing into your Creativity
If you’re a writer and haven’t had the chance to read Julia Cameron’s book, The Artist’s Way, this may be the sign you need to take the leap. The Artist’s Way presents several ideas to help artists of all kinds unlock, expand, and share their creativity through various art forms. Cameron suggests that incorporating regular play is one of the most integral steps to harnessing our creative abilities.
It may sound counterintuitive to seek out play if you’re feeling creatively stagnant or stuck on a particular project. You might be inclined to keep your nose to the grind and forgo any distractions until your work is complete.
But what if incorporating play on a regular basis could actually improve your creativity, your efficiency, and the quality of your work? What if you found yourself having more breakthroughs, ideation, and solutions after a play session? Might you be compelled to incorporate play, then?
The science of play is an emerging discipline, yet there are numerous studies regarding its value in adulthood. Current research suggests that incorporating play not only improves our mental and physical health but also helps expand our creativity.
What is Play?
Play can mean different things to different people. While a collector of baseball cards might consider collecting a form of play, another person might take a bike ride for enjoyment. Though there are countless debates about what constitutes play, Dr. Stuart Brown, researcher and founder of the National Institute for Play, defines play as “being absorbed in an activity that provides enjoyment and a suspension of time. Play is self-motivated, so you want to do it again and again.”
The activity of play is less important than the motivation and attitude behind it. In other words, two people playing tennis might be participating in the same activity, but for one person, tennis is play, and for the other, it’s a form of exercise. This is an important concept because if you choose to seek out play to enhance your creativity, you will want to focus more on your internal state rather than the activity itself.
The benefits of play
Research studies reveal the positive benefits of play. From Jane Goodall’s animal research to developmental psychology, scientists state that humans are biologically wired for play. Here is a list of the benefits.
· Reduces stress and anxiety
· Reduces depressive symptoms
· Releases endorphins
· Improves optimism
· Improves cognitive flexibility
· Improves problem-solving skills
· Expands creativity
· Increases ideation
· Physical play improves cardiovascular health
· Social play improves our sense of interconnectedness & belonging
What is your play personality?
If it’s been a while since you've played and you aren’t sure what play looks like for an adult, Dr. Brown has defined eight play personality types to help you discover your preferred play. Similar to an enneagram or the Myers-Briggs personality classifications, people tend to have a dominant play personality type.
The Storyteller: This person enjoys listening to stories or telling stories. Movies, audiobooks, oral storytelling, writing, and watching movies are examples of storyteller play.
The Creator or Artist: This person experiences joy in making things. From building something to writing a poem and everything in between, this person finds playfulness in the act of creation.
The Competitor: This person enjoys playing games. These games have rules with the objective of winning. Examples include basketball, chess, and pickleball.
The Collector: This person enjoys building a collection. They enjoy the seeking as much as the finding. From collecting stamps to Barbie dolls, collections can include just about anything.
The Director: This person enjoys planning and facilitating. An example might include planning a themed birthday party and choosing everything from the venue to the table centerpieces. This type of play involves organization, forethought, and visualization.
The Explorer: This person enjoys novelty. They like discovering something new and learning through exploration. Examples include trying new restaurants, traveling to new places, or listening to new music.
The Joker: This person is more socially inclined and enjoys making others laugh or being silly with others. Examples include the class clown or those drawn to comedy improvisation.
The Kinesthete: This person enjoys using their body in play. Yoga, dance, or hiking are examples of such play.
If you find it difficult to pick just one, here is a quick quiz to help you find your dominant play personality. If you don’t enjoy placing yourself into one particular category and instead prefer lots of variety in your play, that’s great, dive into whichever activity is calling to you in the moment.
I took the quiz and came up as an explorer. While I believe this is very fitting, I also enjoy using my body in activities, as well as creating art, and planning parties. This quiz is intended to help provide direction if you are otherwise unsure. If you find it frustrating, move on and trust your instincts for which play is best.
If you’ve taken the quiz and still feel uncertain about the type of play you want to incorporate, consider asking yourself the following questions related to your childhood play. Often, what was fun as a child transcends time and can also be fun as an adult.
What brought you joy as a child? If you liked dancing as a child, can you go to a dance club and rekindle that joy?
When did you feel most safe? What activity did you engage in when you felt safe, cared for, or nurtured?
What were you playing when you lost track of time? Do you remember coming home late, or wondering, where did the time go?
What type of play did you enjoy most? Maybe you played outside most days. When was the last time you went on a hike, a walk, or had a picnic?
What did you think and feel when you were playing your favorite game or activity? Analyzing your thoughts and feelings can help you find an adult activity that encourages similar thoughts and feelings. If you remember feeling peaceful and thinking optimistically when you rode your bike for hours, can you do this activity now?
What was it about this type of play that made you feel content, happy, or fulfilled? Maybe you baked with your grandmother and remember feeling happy and connected. Can you bake at a senior center with other grandmas?
What did you want to be when you grew up? Name at least three things. This question comes from Cameron’s book, and it’s an excellent way to recall what sparked your interests as a child. I wanted to be a marine biologist, a singer, and a veterinarian. For my solo artist dates (my play time), I’ve visited the local aquarium, a petting zoo, and on occasion, with enough liquid courage, you might find me doing karaoke.
Once you explore the answers to these questions, you will have a roadmap of activities that you enjoyed as a child and can reintroduce to yourself as an adult. If physicality or other limitations prevent you from participating in play activities, you might seek out resources like these to find a close variation.
I don't have the time to play
I’d argue that you can’t afford not to play. Look at companies like Google, which build their entire brick-and-mortar businesses around the idea that play and work go hand in hand.
Incorporating regular play into your life will not prevent you from completing tasks. Instead, you will find yourself more open and willing to complete unfinished projects, have an increased ability to problem-solve challenges, and have the confidence to share your creativity with others.
10 ideas for adult play activities
Garden and spend time outdoors playing in the soil.
Visit your local artist gallery or museum.
Attend a concert.
Go snorkeling and explore the sea life.
Host a gathering with friends and make something together (we used to call it “stitch and bitch” sessions). You can make something easy like a hand-made greeting card, decorate cupcakes together, or buy a craft kit.
Take a dance class.
Join a local sports league. Some adult sports are laid-back, like a kickball team, while others are more competitive, like adult basketball leagues.
Take a cooking class, or volunteer to cook at your local shelter.
Go geocaching, an activity great for those who like scavenger hunts.
See a play, ballet, or other performance art.
Things to consider
When I first started incorporating weekly play, it felt awkward. I worried that the time I spent playing would lead to further distraction and procrastination. I was also hyper-aware in the beginning, analyzing my every move: Am I playing? Am I relaxed enough to enjoy what I’m doing? Did I lose a sense of time?
It’s okay if it feels awkward or self-indulgent at first. Anything new and outside of your ordinary routine will feel strange at first, but after a while, incorporating play will feel more natural. You will notice the benefits almost immediately. My first attempt at play was snowshoeing in the woods, and I had so many ideas flooding me that it took me an extra 30 minutes to hike back because I had to stop and write down all of my ideas.
Playing as an adult offers many benefits beyond creativity, and as such, can be considered a form of self-care. Cameron recommends at least 1-2 hours each week of adult play or artist dates. If you think you’re short on time, I’m guessing most of us could shave off an hour or two of screen-time a week and replace it with play.
An hour a week is a great start, and once you begin the journey of adult play, you might discover you’ve already been doing it. Decorating a room in your house counts as play if it meets the internal requirements, such as bringing joy and losing a sense of time. Reading a book counts if you can lose yourself in it rather than taking notes for your next novel.
Conclusion
Doing anything new or taking time for oneself can sometimes feel overwhelming. We live in an overly scheduled world and adding one more “to-do” on our list can sometimes feel impossible. However, finding the time to play pays off in dividends. Keep in mind that the time you spend playing will make you a more efficient writer, thinker, and problem-solver.
Play will help you work smarter, not harder, and save you time in the long run. Once your creativity is flowing, you will hit fewer roadblocks. Play is the dance partner to creativity. Together, there is no limit to what an artist can achieve.
