The Importance of Play in Adulthood: Breaking Free from the Productivity Trap

TOPICS: coping, play, adulthood, Privilege, Creativity

KEY FIGURES: Dan Siegel, Jesse Romo, Dani Marrufo, Healthy Mind Platter, Kindman & Co.

SUMMARY:In this episode of Out of Session, hosts Dani Marrufo⁠ and ⁠Jesse Romo⁠ explore the concept of play in adulthood, discussing how the spontaneous, purposeless nature of play that comes naturally to children becomes increasingly difficult to maintain as people grow older. They reflect on their childhood experiences of play, sharing personal stories about imaginative games, crafting, and outdoor activities that were driven by pure enjoyment rather than productivity or specific goals.

The conversation delves into the societal pressures that make play challenging for adults, including the pervasive culture of productivity, the need to justify time spent on non-goal-oriented activities, and the ways in which privilege impacts one's ability to engage in playful experiences. They discuss how financial constraints, work demands, and systemic challenges can limit opportunities for play, particularly for marginalized communities who may be more focused on survival than recreation.

Throughout the episode, Dani and Jesse explore play as a form of self-expression, coping mechanism, and connection, highlighting personal examples like Jesse's music creation and Dani's crafting of 'ugly keychains'. They conclude by challenging listeners to reconnect with play as a vital aspect of human experience, emphasizing the importance of engaging in activities without pressure, purpose, or the need for external validation.

KEY QUOTES:• "Play that is purposeless, play that isn't about learning something specific... it's intuitive, it's self-evident when you're in it completely." - Jesse Romo• "How easy is it to actually feel playful when being a person of color or being queer or being trans in our world as it currently is?" - Jesse Romo• "As adults, we don't play as often as kids do. And I feel like that's what's resonating... why is it so hard to play as an adult?" - Jesse Romo• "We get so used to having to justify our time." - Jesse Romo• "It is a privilege to play. You need some financial privilege to have more diversity in play." - Dani Marrufo

KEY TAKEAWAYS:• Play becomes increasingly difficult for adults as societal expectations of productivity and purpose make spontaneous, purposeless activities feel 'unproductive'• Playfulness can be a form of coping, self-expression, and imagination, particularly during challenging life experiences• The ability to play is influenced by privilege, including financial resources, time, emotional bandwidth, and systemic oppression• Many adults lose the natural, uninhibited approach to play that children have, becoming self-critical and overly focused on outcomes• Play doesn't need to have a specific goal or be monetized - its value lies in the experience itself and the joy it brings• Different forms of play exist, from creative hobbies to spontaneous activities like dance parties, and can be deeply personal and meaningful• The current societal and global context can make it challenging to feel playful, as heavy emotions and stressors can inhibit one's capacity for lightheartedness

Look out for the full transcript of this episode on the Kindman & Co. blog and sign up for our Kindman & Co. newsletter on our website to get community updates!

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YOU! We hope that this episode motivates or encourages you to play. Whether it's getting outside, doing something crafty, or something else, we encourage you to play without pressure, without purpose, and without needing to validate or justify your play to yourself or anyone else.