Play is the Fuel that Powers Our Work

I was intrigued by Nicky Penttila's June 2006 article in Urbanite Baltimore Magazine entitled "All Work and No Play". Nicky is concerned that too many adults in the United States have schedules stuffed with goal-oriented activities that leave no time for play. Nicky suggests that play isn't simply something nice to do in our leftover time, it's essential for health, happiness, and productivity.

According to Nicky, "play just may be the secret to thriving in the new information economy. As the U.S. economy tilts more to the service and information sectors, creativity and problem-solving (areas that are developed chiefly through play and playfulness) will be more in demand."

I agree with Nicky Penttila. Play is the fuel that powers our work.

Sadly, several of my client executives have told me that they have no time for play. They have endless "to do" lists with new demands every day. Often I hear, "once this project/busy season/budget cycle/board meeting is completed I'll be able to take some time for myself". Somehow, the "time for myself" keeps getting postponed as new crises surface. Yet an executive that is play-deprived does not have enough fuel for peak performance at work.

I've discovered the hard way that when I work for hours on end without a break, my effectiveness declines. When I focus too narrowly for too long, I lose my perspective. Strange as it may seem, I often come upon a solution to a problem when I'm not actually thinking about the problem.

Also, I have a tendency to become driven to finish a task. No matter how long it takes, I just want to finish. I've learned that when I force myself to stop and devote time to a pleasurable activity, something magical happens. When I return to my desk, the task has somehow shrunk to a manageable size. I am able to set a time limit for completion and stick to it.

I'm learning to give myself permission to have fun.