Do you take time out to have fun in your life? Do you engage in activities that re-charge your emotional and physical batteries? While we all need playtime, most of us have a little voice in our head that is chock full of excuses as to why we shouldn’t indulge ourselves.
You may think things like: Play? Who has the time to play? I have more important things to do. It would be irresponsible to think of doing something that sounds so trivial.
“Playtime” can have many meanings. It can be enjoying a fun activity that provides stress relief while also promoting balance in our lives. As we get older, many of us have been conditioned to feel guilty about taking a time out. Perhaps subconsciously we might also feel that we don’t deserve to have fun. However, these are false assumptions, and we need to shift our mindset in order to free ourselves of these silly myths.
One way to change your thinking is to consider how children play. Children don’t have any hang-ups about the concept of play. They just know it’s fun, and they can’t wait to get to it. Try to remember what you loved doing as a child and see if you can incorporate some of that playfulness into your current life. For example, if you loved to draw or tell stories, try indulging some of your creative aspirations. Perhaps you can think of an interesting art project or write a short story.
You should never feel guilty or bad about wanting to have fun. Downtime is actually healthy for you. Self-care is especially crucial for highly sensitive people. If we don’t take care of ourselves, we can easily become overwhelmed by life. Most importantly, it helps us recharge our batteries, which can increase productivity in the long run.
Some advantages of “Playtime” include:
- Increases emotional satisfaction and may boost self-esteem. You’ll generate good feelings when you’re participating in an activity that you enjoy. When you’re in high spirits, you’re more likely to feel good about yourself.
- Enhances creativity and develops new or existing skills. Fun activities can stimulate your natural HSP creativity. which can seep into all other aspects of your life. Creativity is like a muscle — the more you use it, the more it grows! These activities can also enhance your existing skills or inspire you to learn new things.
- Encourages social interaction, which improves health. Pursuing your interests will often put you in contact with others who share your interest. Studies have shown that socializing with others leads to better health and greater happiness in life. If you’re a high sensitive person, have social anxiety, or are an introvert, it’s especially important to connect with other like-minded people. Since we experience life on a such a deep level, it helps to have strong social connections.
- Improves the body and mind. The more you use your body and mind, the better they will work for you. Perhaps you can find an activity, such as hiking or bicycling, that can improve your physical fitness. You may find an intellectually stimulating hobby, such as crossword puzzles or genealogy, that can help keep your brain active and sharp, which is especially important as you get older.
- Gives a much-needed change of routine. Enjoyable activities that break up your normal way of doing things can be a welcome relief from the hum-drum of everyday life. You’ll feel refreshed and ready to take on new challenges.
Since “Playtime” can help you get the most out of life, make it a priority in your schedule. Seek pleasure and enjoyment as often as you can. Not only will you feel better emotionally and physically, you will also feel recharged and better equipped to handle life’s daily challenges.
How do you unwind? Do you make the time for “play?” Do you feel guilty taking time off to do things you enjoy? I’m interested in any thoughts or comments that you have.
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