Is play the secret ingredient we’re missing at work?

More fun, please!

Around the age of three, children do something fascinating. 

Parallel play. It’s where two kids play independently, side by side. They’re not interacting with each other – they’re both interacting with whatever toy or activity is holding their attention. 

But for some reason, they choose to do that in close proximity to each other. 

There are six stages of play that children engage with during the first six years of their lives. Beyond this age group, we don’t talk much about play. Much like education, we view it as a phase of life as opposed to an ongoing journey. 

Which honestly, I think is nuts. Play opens up space for collaboration. It helps us see new perspectives, find alternative ways of doing things, and strengthen relationships. It reduces stress, improves productivity, and gives a welcome boost to our wellbeing. Those things don’t just benefit the little ones.

In a world of increasingly complex problems, we require increasingly creative solutions. There has never been a better case for play. 

I have always sought play in my work. I’m at my best when I’m having fun, which usually involves doing something creative. I am most fulfilled when intriguing client projects are balanced with novelty creative projects. As I type this, a giant paper mache ball sits next door, waiting for me to transform it into a Halloween costume. 

One of the most tangible positive outcomes I’ve had from play came recently when my social media manager and I hosted a business strategy day.

We booked out a conference room, and swapped laptops and phones for post-it notes, vibrant sharpies, and wall-size sheets of paper. 

And then we parallel-played. In a series of workshop exercises, we worked on individual ideas before chatting through them together. We indulged in some expansive thinking – imagining what we’d do if budget wasn’t a concern.

And since that day, things have been happening. Big things! I’ve created healthier habits to move Becca and me closer to those goals. I’ve secured a speaking opportunity. We’ve launched a freelance community. None of this would have happened, had we not set aside a day for play.

Fun can be fuel, but we have to make space for it in our lives. There’s no one right way to play – and you can do it alone or with friends, depending on your preference. At this point, I’m struggling not to acknowledge the innuendo. 

Videogames with friends, DIY costumes, creative writing, team sports – those things all count as play. And they’re way more useful for work than we give them credit for. Protect and defend your right to play, because the kids are onto something.

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The resource section

🛝 I engage in parallel play every single week. On a Monday, to be specific. At my local coworking space. According to this NYT piece, I’m not the only one.

🎓 Could micro-internships help students and recent graduates acclimatise to work life? This podcast episode explores how short knowledge work gigs can smooth the transition for young professionals.

😴 Sick of hearing about burnout? Get ready for boreout! Where folks are – you guessed it – bored out of their heads by understimulating work. It’s almost as if businesses need a lil more play in their day 👀