9/17/26 Email #3

Last week, we lamented about how we (sadly) can’t tap into the neuroscience of play at work if our only play is skiing and cocktails.

It’s definitely a bummer to NOT SKI at work, but we can still activate the whirlwind of beneficial neurochemicals by just being PLAYFUL. 

Playfulness is defined by Rene Proyer as the ability to (re)frame any situation to be interesting, entertaining, or stimulating. 

Literally any situation. Those emails to your team? Maybe you can write them as if you were Dolly Parton. That lesson plan that you aren’t quite sure about? Try a new medium (did you assign an essay last time, try assigning a song instead…)  Entering grades into that software platform that is sure to glitch in the middle of your work? Try moving your laptop somewhere you can stand, turn on music, and move a little while working. 

Some of you may be shocked at these suggestions. And it’s not surprising… because so many of us have been brainwashed into believing professionalism = being boring.

Maybe you’re more shocked that the suggestions are just so … SIMPLE. 

Sometimes we overshoot what we need. Figuring out what feels playful for us doesn’t necessarily mean HAVING SO MUCH FUN. Fun is actually just a side effect of playfulness. To be playful, we only need to make something a little more interesting, stimulating, or entertaining. That’s it! But wait, what’s interesting? Well, I can’t define that for you.  Because that’s going to be different for every single one of us.  Music might make entering grades less terrible for me, tut you might find it distracting and prefer quiet for that type of work.  And BOTH ARE OK! Someone might make a ridiculous competition with themselves to see how many emails they can send before their coffee gets cold. You might cringe at the because it feels like adding more pressure to sending the emails.  AND BOTH ARE OK! 

Play is personal. One of the biggest mistakes we can make when trying to be more playful is deciding what should be fun for OTHERS. Forced fun is never fun. 

So instead of asking “how can I make this FUN”, try asking: 

How would this be more stimulating or entertaining or interesting? 

It’s not a huge distinction, but it will result in a huge difference. 

And if you’re wondering how the heck you’re supposed to know what’s interesting, entertaining, or stimulating for YOU… there’s actually some research that can help us figure that out.

There are four different ways that playfulness tends to show up in adults. They are the Personal Play Identities and they have been scientifically validated by Rene Proyer, and next week we’re going to figure out yours.

For now, your only job is to notice.

When something at work feels a little easier, more interesting, or maybe even enjoyable… what changed?

Was it the people? The environment? Did you approach the problem differently? Did you make yourself laugh? Did you get curious about something?

Pay attention to those little moments. They might tell you more about how you play than you think.

See you next week, keep playing!