Play for Health

by Demond Johnson

To play or not to play, that is the question… No, I am not at all a famous playwright, however, I am here to show you the many ways you can play, and how easy it can be.

It is no big secret that much of what we fail to accomplish is directly related to our bad habits. These habits are known as vices and, believe it or not, they are an essential part of what makes you who you are. Ever hear the old saying, “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy”? There is truth to this.

If we were to be literal, play would simply suggest that we engaged in a recreational activity. However, when we speak of play and we associate it with our health and wellness, what are some things that come to mind? We can ponder on that question for quite some time so, in this column, I am going to attempt to shed a bit of light on “play” while giving out some helpful food for thought.

One of the first things that we should know is that we were all created as complex beings with the intent of using movement to result in change. That is correct, the body was meant to move. So, move! Movement creates much needed positive energy that produces endorphins to combat and reduce cortisol while setting the tone for everything else to come. The average American spends about 8-9 hours per day sleeping and about three hours watching television. Now, when we factor in work that is about another eight hours. Do we see a trend here? Being active (taking the time to play) and maintaining a healthy lifestyle can boost our longevity by more than seven years!

Through my many years in the health and wellness field, I have spent an extensive amount of time trying to dissect movement into equally beneficial parts to help people achieve total wellness. In order to accomplish this, you must understand that total wellness cannot be achieved through the physical alone. We must stimulate our mental as well as our physical, and an excellent way to do this is through socialization.

How do we focus on physical movement and mental stimulation at the same time while remembering to play? By using what I call the three F’s of wellness… FIND, FUN, FACTOR of wellness.

• FIND: find something interesting that you are willing to commit to and make an obligation to hold yourself accountable by creating relevant, actionable, and practical goals.

• FUN: do not approach your play time with a “I have to” or second job mentality, it should be fun and something that you always look forward to doing.

• FACTOR: be sure that your activity factors into your daily life physically, emotionally, and mentally.

Remember, play ultimately calls for movement which creates the transformation of positive energy. Here are a few takeaways to close on; play is all inclusive (for any skill level), it is totally mobile, fully adaptable, and does not require equipment. You are as you do! Diversify your health, prioritize your wellness, and PLAY!

September

Social

Connect with your friends, have a fashion show of old fall clothes. Exchange them with each other so you all have fun and are ready for fall. All it costs is money for you and your crew to have their favorite drinks and appetizers.

Space

Personal

Think of summers past... those moments that you can’t put your finger on but will remember for the rest of your life. Write down what it felt like and why. You will really learn a lot and it will help you be more intentional in this twilight of summer. Go outside and look around. Bring the fall colors into your home, anything from rocks found in a stream, flowers, spinach, lettuce, broccoli — really look at the rich color palette nature is offering.

Financial

Make a list of all the people you want to buy gifts for this upcoming holiday season. Create your budget. Then make a wish list for yourself. The sky’s the limit, it can be anything from a fabulous new something (fill in your blank) to a wish for peace and kindness all over the world. Or both! Start looking for the items on your list as you go through your day.

Spiritual

Enjoy the last days of summer. Make it a goal to worship, meditate, search out fellowship, or self reflect, anytime you can in the month of September.

Emotional

Try role playing with yourself in the mirror or with others. Come up with a list of roles you would like to try. For example: Bus Driver, Person who always forgives, Executive, Broadway singer, Drummer, You in the future. Dress the part and love the play time.