Have a Play Perspective

Have you ever stopped to think about how we use the word “play?” My kid plays soccer. I love to play pickleball. Let’s play catch. It goes beyond the play room and into the world of sports...and life if we choose to let it. If we choose to have a play perspective.

Sometimes work and life feel too heavy, too overwhelming to be associated with the word play. Play feels lighthearted and fun, and sometimes life just doesn’t feel that way.

But what if we intentionally chose to see daily things as play. What if we brought more lightheartedness and fun into work meetings.

I’m guessing they might feel a little less heavy and overwhelming because most things are a choice. We can choose to feel differently about things. We can choose to have a different perspective.

For example, I don’t love doing laundry. It’s such a chore for me! But when my daughter’s around, she wants to help and a boring chore becomes a little more fun (she loves to throw clothes into the dryer like a baseball). This also allows me to see laundry through the eyes of an almost three year old...and most things are just more fun through their eyes!

Let’s take another example. Most work meetings start with the usual questions about everyone’s weekend, the weather, etc. Why not start a meeting with a joke or a fun question. I even know a coach who starts her calls with a short one-minute dance party.

The point is that the shift doesn’t have to be earth-shattering or huge. The best changes are usually the simplest.

And let’s be real – nothing needs to be taken super seriously and everything could be made more playful if we choose.

It’s all about having a play perspective!