It’s common for people to treat being busy as a badge of honor. There’s guilt associated with not being productive and getting things done. This episode is about the overlooked importance of play. One of the reasons that people are so burned out and miserable is the lack of play, especially quality play with the ones they love.
Our book club just finished Brene Brown’s The Gifts Of Imperfection, where she talks about how we struggle with ideas of play and rest. I’m going to talk about how play is a critical aspect of the human experience and so important that we need to put resources towards having fun, playful experiences with our families and spending time doing fun things that aren’t aimed at being productive.
Episode Highlights:
[02:29] Our book club just finished up The Gifts Of Imperfection by Brene Brown. She’s one of my favorite authors, and I highly recommend her work.
[02:53] One of the things she talks about is how we struggle with the idea of play and rest, because it goes along with the stigma of laziness.
[03:11] We identify our importance and value by our busyness and overworking. We are proud of how over-packed our calendars are.
[04:12] Instead of accepting busyness, we need to find a cure for it.
[04:50] Play shouldn’t be structured on something that we design. Play is unstructured time spent without a purpose.
[06:26] We need to change the paradigm of saying no to our kids when they ask us to play, because we need to be doing productive work all of the time. Without play, we end up with exhaustion and discontent.
[08:08] Board games and family game nights create space to play.
[09:32] The studies are clear that the joy of play makes us infinitely more productive.
[10:09] We need to make space to play. It reduces anxiety, stress, and overwhelm.
[10:49] Play is time spent without purpose, something you don’t want to end, and it leads to a loss of self-consciousness.
[12:44] Through trial and error, figure out what works for you and your family. Give yourself permission to prioritize spending around your play.
[14:31] What needs to happen for you to give yourself permission to play?
[16:06] Remind your brain that play will make you more productive.
[17:37] Play needs to be fulfilling, not just staring at a device.
[17:56] Challenge: Look at your calendar and notice how overbooked you and your family are. Cut out the things that aren’t fun and spend some money on what you and your family really enjoy and find engaging.
Resources & Links Related to this Episode
- Wealthquest Get Started
- Living a Rich Life: The No-Regrets Guide to Building and Spending Wealth
- The Gifts of Imperfection: 10th Anniversary Edition: Features a new foreword and brand-new tools
- The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry: How to Stay Emotionally Healthy and Spiritually Alive in the Chaos of the Modern World
