Rest and play.
“Rest and play, are as vital to our health as nutrition and exercise.”
– Dr. Brené Brown
THE LOWDOWN
Many people cannot remember the last time they had time that was truly free. In her book “The Gifts of Imperfection: Let Go of Who You Think You're Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You Are”, Dr. Brené Brown explains the importance of rest and play, particularly in our modern culture where productivity is practically the only measure of self-worth and work exhaustion is carried as a badge of honour.
“Time is gold” goes the old maxim, so ingrained in our lives that for many, taking free and unstructured time to simply rest and play is already a cause for anxiety. Dr. Brown’s research on the matter concludes: “We are tired. Dangerously tired.” From insufficient quality sleep to overstressed parents raising overstressed children.
So go ahead and give yourself some time to fool around a bit or relax without any plans or agenda.
WHY IS IT GOOD?
Research shows that being a ‘kidult’ from time to time helps you live longer.
Play relieves stress, boosts creativity, improves brain activity, improves relationships…
Free unstructured play is not just important for your health, it’s essential for your children’s.
Not getting enough rest is a primary cause for a wide range of serious health issues.
SOME IDEAS
Here are a few examples of what rest or unstructured play can look like (no, it doesn’t involve TV or playing video games):
Go to a park and play classic outdoor games.
Take a siesta. There’s a reason why Spaniards live longer!
Go mental in a soft-play room (but make sure there are no small children around!)
Enjoy the art of hammocking.
Go early to bed and/or sleep in.
Call your boss and say life is way too precious and you’re not going to work today. If there are any complains, say you might not go tomorrow either.
EXTRA BROWNIE POINTS
Get that friend or family member who never wants to play (that would be Veronica) to give it all in a karaoke bar.
Enjoy your well-deserved rest and play time!
Please help us spread happiness by sharing the boosters!
Web: https://kensho.life/weekly-happiness-booster
See you next week!
JOIN THE KENSHO LIFE
Sign up to our newsletter to receive our latest guided meditations, news and articles.