Play is one of the most important elements of being creative. Period.   

Without it, your chance of being creative is non-existent.

Play is the ability to explore and free yourself of restrictions.

A great thing about play is that you can’t define or categorize it.

It can be about jumping, building, ripping, rolling on the grass, climbing a mountain or writing a letter.

It’s something you do for its own joy. Not for the end result.

Children play with anything they can get their hands on. Give a child a pot and a few serving spoons. Within a few seconds, you’ll hear the sounds of a novice drummer.

No one taught you how to cavort when you were a child.

It was something you did naturally, without thinking.

But as an adult, you’ve forgotten how.

Here are 3 steps that will help you reignite your playful personality.

1.Warm Up…..Get Into The Flow

Set aside 3 minutes every day for a Warm Up.

Create a special place to be your Play Room.

It should be a quiet place where no one will bother you. Turn off all phones and computers.

Look for items in your house to use as play props. Or go to a dollar store and buy some stuff.

A ball, pick-up sticks, dice, magic markers, play dough, paper, pots, and a child’s banjo are a few examples.

Set a timer for 3 minutes.

Then begin to play. However you want. With or without props.

Don’t think about it. Just do it.

Let loose and enjoy the process.

When the timer goes off, stop. Take a deep breath.

Check in with yourself. How do you feel?

Continue to do the 3 minute Warm Up everyday for the next 4 weeks.

2. ‘Play Practice’ …. Let Your Play Personality Emerge

After 4 weeks of Warm Up sessions, set aside 15 minutes a day for Play Practice.

Pick a daily play activity.

If you want to hopscotch, buy some chalk and have a blast. Feel like strumming on the guitar that you haven’t touched in over a year? Or how about that rich chocolate cake recipe that you’ve been dying to bake?

Do the 15 minute Play Practice for the next 4 weeks. Continue doing your 3 minute Warm Up.

Remember, it doesn’t matter what you do.

It’s how you do it.

3. Forget About Convention….Be Authentic and Break The Rules

You’ve been taught to stifle your playful spirit.

You learn to study, work hard, dress, and act a certain way.

But being conventional is boring.

And it’s not good for your health.

Here’s how to do the 3rd step.

Observe your ‘same old’ behaviors for the next few days.

Everyday choose one that you want to fool around with.

It can be the clothes you wear, the food you eat, the activities you participate in, or the conversations you have.

Whichever one you decide on, do it with the intent of exploring and having fun.

Don’t be self conscious.

And don’t give a damn what other people might be thinking.

An example:

Your signature look for work is conservative, neutral colored suits. You’ve always wanted to wear the bright purple scarf sitting in your drawer with a lipstick red dress. Now’s your chance to break the mold and do it!

How does the your colorful Play Personality walk through your day? Friendlier? More self confident?

Challenge yourself to play with new behaviors and attitudes everyday.

Make the 3 minute Warm Up and 15 minute Play Practice part of your daily routine.

The more you practice the better you’ll get.

When free play becomes a part of your daily life, magical things will happen.

You will:

• Rediscover the impish you that was waiting to emerge
• Feel more vital, flexible, and creative
• Interact with ideas, people, things, images, places, and yourself in a fresh way
• Sharpen your ability to respond to a rapidly changing world
• Become smarter
• Experience the playful nature of the cosmos
• Understand that humans need to play in order to survive and thrive
• Live a life of power and grace