It’s been a minute since I popped into your inbox. And rather than write 400 words explaining where I’ve been, we’re just gonna jump right back in. Cool? Cool.
I was recently reminded of a cool science fact I learned probably about five years ago when I started all this…
There’s a neuroscientist named Jaak Panksepp who spent decades studying the emotional systems in mammalian brains, our human brains, anciently. His research identified seven primary emotional systems.
Fear, rage, care, panic/grief, seeking, lust…aaaaaand
PLAY!!!
Play isn’t just something children do because they have lots of free time and significantly fewer emails than the rest of us. Our capacity for play is deeply rooted in our brains. Which makes it especially interesting that somewhere along the road to adulthood, we started treating play like something extra. Something you do AFTER the important stuff is finished. When there’s time. When the work is done. Maybe on vacation. And DEFINITELY not during a staff meeting. Our society forgot what our brains still know.
And this is one of the reasons I get a little twitchy when play is dismissed as frivolous. Play isn't the opposite of serious. And it certainly isn't the opposite of work. It’s part of being human. Biologically! Neurobiologically!
If you struggle with what play really is for you, check out the National Institute for Play’s new updated Play Styles quiz. Absolutely fascinating insight from the results! Check it out for yourself!
Keep playing!
GRATITUDE SECTION: My birthday! It’s not until next week, but my birthday tends to last more like 12 days instead of one. Probably no one is surprised. To kick off the celebration, I’m headed to Vegas this weekend to see the Foo Fighters, then throwing myself a party the following weekend. My gratitude is actually for a husband that supports my over-reveling and friends that like to celebrate with me!
Bring more play into the way you work with the Playful Work Design card deck collection—three practical, 52-card toolkits designed to help you navigate challenges, take playful breaks, and bring more intention to how you work. Whether you need a quick reset, a new way to approach a difficult moment, or a little more play in your day, there’s a card for that. Pick a deck, pull a card, and find an approach that works for YOU.