Grownup Tips for a More Playful Summer
Get out & play.
While we’ve told you the many benefits of playing as adults, in case you still need some incentive consider this George Bernard Shaw quote: “We don’t stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.” Mentally stuck on rounds of “Red Rover?” Know that to play is simply to “engage in activity for enjoyment and recreation rather than a serious or practical purpose.” Which can take many different forms. Besides, why should kids have all the fun? We are, after all, old enough to enjoy it.
Have a ball.
Even if you haven’t yet played with your own friends circle, you’ve no doubt read that pickleball is the fastest growing sport in America. A mashup of tennis, badminton and ping pong played with a sort of wiffle ball, the sport now boasts over 9,000 courts across the country. With the best blend of social activity and competitive sport, it accommodates even those, like us, with less coordination. Find places to play and more info here.
Get good(night) reads.
We once read about a couple who take turns reading to each other at night, and we couldn’t think of a lovelier idea—and yes, this counts as play. The magic of reading a story out loud is the level of performance we use to give the tale added meaning. Similarly, being on the receiving end allows us to get lost in the story in a way we might not if we were staring at the page. We suggest something fanciful like a Tolkien book or perhaps a mystery like Sherlock Holmes.
Find a playgroup.
A friend recently told us about a tug of war (and not the play kind) that had been going on every Saturday: Her hubby liked to head out to golf while she really loved to hike. That’s when she found her very own hiking group via Meetup and she’s been happily trekking ever since. Truth is, there is a Meetup for whatever interests you might have and if not, you’re welcome to start one. Lest you think it’s all fun and games, there are even opportunities to sharpen skills or discover career paths (but we still advocate for finding time to play).
Run further, together.
Many of us have had to run alone due to our schedules or without partners or friends who also enjoy it, but we can also attest to the many friends we’ve met through this seemingly solo sport. Whether we joined marathon training groups, regular weeknight runs or track workouts, we know we ran faster and further than we would have on our own. Whether you are training for something, would like to improve or would just like to enjoy the company of others, we suggest finding a club here and lacing up.
