How to Engage in Creativity & Play

We live in a society that glorifies being busy, stressed, and productive. We often view these as

badges of honor and as symbols of self-worth. However, research shows that if we continually

make efforts to slow down and take care of ourselves we’re actually more likely to be productive

both inside and outside of the classroom. Some ways to slow down include making time for

creativity and play in our lives.

Often when we think of play we think of children playing games, however, play is an important

part of each stage of our lives. Play is described as any activity for recreation or enjoyment

rather than something for serious or practical purposes. Below are some ways to include play in

your life according to Dr. Brene Brown:

Many times when we think of rest, play, or self-care we think of Netflix. However, the problem

with netflix and watching TV is that it is passive. We often use it as a way to procrastinate or

escape reality, while this is not what play is. Play and rest requires being actively engaged. This

could mean doing any activity in which you are in the present moment and engaged.

It can be hard to be in the present moment and truly engage in rest and play if we are also

engaged with our phones. When plugged into our phones we are also plugged into schoolwork,

social media, internships, jobs, etc. Challenge yourself to be fully engaged in the present

moment and to take a break from technology. Sometimes the best way to recharge is to unplug.

We often have a very narrow definition of productivity, we think being productive includes

studying for a test, writing a paper, or applying for internships. It’s important to challenge this view of productivity; taking care of ourselves including taking time to rest is a vital part of being productive long-term. In order to sustain yourself inside the classroom and out, it is important to listen to your body and mind, and rest when it’s needed.