Why Does Play Matter for Adult Joy and Happiness?

Play is vital for adult joy and happiness because it reduces stress, enhances creativity and problem-solving, improves relationships, and boosts overall emotional and mental well-being. By engaging in voluntary, intrinsically motivated activities for their own sake, adults can reclaim a sense of spontaneity and pleasure often lost to stress and responsibility. 

Why do we say that music is “played”? What are other ways that adults can be in the world of “play”?

Here is an excellent example of bringing play to everyday life. 

A pioneer in research on play, Stuart Brown says humor, games, roughhousing, flirtation and fantasy are more than just fun. Plenty of play in childhood makes for happy, smart adults — and keeping it up can make us smarter at any age.

“When I say playfulness is the source of all discoveries, I mean it. The greatest calamity that can happen to a man is that he becomes too serious and too practical. A little bit of craziness, a little bit of eccentricity, is all for the good. ” — OSHO

Originally written March 12, 2011

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