The POWER and IMPORTANCE of PLAY

"We don't stop playing because we get old; we get old because we stop playing." - George Bernard Shaw

Many people are telling me they're exhausted, stressed and worn out. That's why it's important to set aside time for play. You may be thinking "What?! You don't know my life."

You're right, I don't know your life. What I do is that psychologists and wellness experts say is we need to counteract fear and worries with something that gives us a break. Even if it's for an hour or two. Something that makes us smile or laugh. Something that makes us feel good instead of bad. It's not indulgent, it's an investment in staying energized and upbeat.

When people ask what prompted me to take my business on the road for a Year by the Water, I share something my son Andrew said, “Mom, you’re created a life where you can do pretty much anything you want, and you’re not taking advantage of it.”

He was right. I'll always be grateful to him for helping me realize the clock is ticking (not in a morbid way, in a motivating way) and that there's no present like the time - and no time like the present - to create the life and work of my dreams.

I am grateful to do meaningful work with people I enjoy and respect, but I was pretty much going-going-going seven days a week. (Sound familiar?)

Then, like many busy people I know, I came down with a respiratory illness that wouldn’t get better. I “soldiered through” for weeks until I was so sick I could hardly get out of bed.

A friend took me to Urgent Care. The doc diagnosed walking pneumonia, prescribed bed rest and antibiotics, and then said, “I don’t understand why people work themselves to death. You’re lucky. We can treat this with a Z-pack and you’ll be fine in ten days. But if you don’t start taking better care of yourself, your body will do something else to get your attention.”

Hmm. What is it with this Puritan Work Ethic? Why do 55% of Americans NOT take all their paid vacation days? (Fact!) Why do so many of us think fun is something you do AFTER your work is done? For many of us, our work is never done, which means we never make time or take time to re-energize, to re-create. We just get more and more run down.

I’m supposed to know better than this.

Guess what my major was in college? Recreation Administration! I grew up being active outside and believe it's at the center of a happy, healthy life. Even though a few people told me R.A. was a “joke degree for slackers,” I paid my way through college by coaching swim teams, running community centers, and organizing sports leagues.

Yet, for a number of reasons, for the past couple of decades, I’ve spent more time sitting and spectating than stepping outside and participating. Let’s unpack that for a moment.

As parents, it’s easy for our days to become filled with chauffeuring kids everywhere while we sit in the car, on the bleachers and sidelines, or in the waiting room. At work, it's easy to get caught up with projects, client commitments, and employee/business obligations.

But you know one of my most important lessons-learned from My Year by the Water?

Fun is not frivolous. Play and productivity are not mutually exclusive; they're two sides of the coin of health and happiness. It isn't selfish to do one thing a week that fills us with joy; it’s a smart investment in a healthier, happier life.

Please understand, I’m not suggesting we abandon our responsibilities and only do what we want. I’m suggesting we balance our responsibilities to others with a responsibility to our self to stay in love with life.

Like today, for example. I spent a good eight hours on Skype video, Zoom and on the phone with clients. but then the foothills of Boulder called. I headed out the door and five minutes later was steeping myself in the marvels of Wonderland Lake Park. Everything feels right with my world when I'm walking..

What does that for you? What do you enjoy, look forward to, do "just" for fun?

Here’s to making fun an active part (intentional play on words) of your year so you're creating the quality of life and work where the light is on in your eyes ... now, not someday.

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Sam Horn, CEO of the Intrigue Agency , is on a mission to help people create the life and work of their dreams. Her 3 TEDx talks?and 9 books have been featured in?NY Times?and on NPR and presented to NASA, Nationwide, Capital One, YPO. Intel, Cisco, Boeing.