In Defense of Play

Why Adults Need to Rediscover Creativity and Imagination

When was the last time you did something purely for enjoyment, with no hidden agenda to learn or improve? 

It's been a while, hasn’t it?

Okay, now reflect on the last time you used your imagination to see things differently, whether to solve a problem or approach a task creatively?

For some, it's probably been a few years. 

Somewhere along the way, adults tend to abandon these natural tendencies towards creativity and imagination and instead default to pure logic and straightforward problem-solving. While there is nothing inherently wrong with this, a logical approach can limit and stifle innovation. But creativity thinking is an uphill battle for adults—the societal pressure to prioritize productive activities over enjoyable ones is something adults face daily and is equally an internal battle and an external one. Not to mention there is immense cultural bias to participate in an activity with no ulterior motive other than fun. 

That is why I strongly advocate for ending the “stigma” of play for adult. 

Adults who maintain their curiosity, explore freely, and learn for the sheer joy of it tend to approach life's challenges with greater adaptability. Skills like imagination, wonder, and playfulness help adults understand and develop new abilities more efficiently. I encourage you to push past the pressure from yourself or others and lean into an activity just for fun or curiosity's sake.  

Video games, board games, and fictional books are perfect gateways back into wonder and play for adults. They stretch your creative mind, forming new neural pathways that indirectly enhance your problem-solving abilities across all areas of life. I love fiction books, especially sci-fi and fantasy, for their painless way of immersing readers into new worlds and reigniting that long-forgotten imagination. They guide adults beyond conventional thinking and expand their minds through creative novel ideas.

Thanks to our resources and education, adulthood brings unique opportunities for creative activities. Play might mean starting a sport purely for enjoyment, pursuing a pilot's license, or exploring less physical pursuits like programming, art, writing, or cooking. As adults, we love to overcomplicate things. Still, play doesn't need to be elaborate—even 15 minutes of fantasy reading before bed enriches your mind more than many of your peers, giving you an edge.  

It is simple: Choose what interests you and explore it. Think of how children play—they naturally flow between activities, guided only by curiosity and interest.

You don't need to analyze the pros and cons. Trust me on this.

When you rediscover that freedom of imagination and curiosity as an adult, you recognize which activities drain versus energize you. I've always believed hobbies can mentally recharge you. You might experience the surprising phenomenon where working on something you love, even if it's physically demanding, can energize you as much as a nap.

That's the magic of play.

It reactivates neural pathways in your brain that have been dormant since adolescence. Your mind becomes more flexible at thinking unconventionally, allowing you to approach life's challenges from unexpected angles. Best of all, it makes you more interesting. When someone asks about your hobbies, you'll have genuine passions to share!

The most exciting part? We're just beginning to explore new ways to engage in imaginative play. Think Ready Player One-style immersive virtual and augmented realities, where you can satisfy your curiosity through low-stakes virtual experiences. It's fascinating to see how the evolution of technology will continue to encourage play—throughout all life stages.

So take this as a sign and go out and play.