Story 2. Play… seriously
In 2015 I was doing my final year of an undergraduate science degree. I had just raised my study commitment to full time. I felt like I was really getting somewhere. Our daughter was thriving and settling into a new school. Everything seemed rosy. But before the end of February, the world I knew abruptly ended. My beautiful home, the partner I shared it with, familiar routines, beloved pets - everything I had poured my heart into for 15 years - unravelled. The months that followed were a desperate scramble for financial stability, a place to live and attempts to preserve some normality for myself and a bewildered child. As you can imagine it was one of life’s most stressful times.
But over that time, something else happened which we still both recall with smiles. It was a special activity that my daughter and I did together. I had enrolled in a course on insect evolution and diversity. One assignment was to present a collection of insects that we had to capture, preserve, identify and label ourselves. Fortunately the weather was still warm and insects abounded. My daughter always had a phenomenal eye for spotting creatures, regardless of how well they were camouflaged, so she was a great help! We had loads of fun and the whole experience was very satisfying. It was only long afterwards that I saw just how valuable that activity was for our mental wellbeing.
When it comes to the power of ‘play’ to boost emotional wellbeing and brain function in adults, there are several key factors that make it most effective. Insect collecting had all of these factors. First there was a challenge (not too hard, not too easy) so we had to be alert and actively engaged. Insects are easily missed if you don’t pay attention to your surroundings. Second was a lack of mastery, the novelty and mystery of ‘not knowing’… we had never done it before and who knew what we may find?! Third was a purpose to steer our efforts towards a particular goal that would give satisfaction. Finally, some autonomy, providing freedom of expression. It was up to us when, where and how we got the job done, and how the collection would be displayed.
Playful activities with these key features, stimulate brain cells (neurons) to form new networks of positive connections. So they don’t just feel good, they change the structure of our brains. Boosting positive brain networks helps us to be more creative, to problem solve, see new perspectives and empathise. This is a vital counterbalance to the ‘fight or flight’ networks in the brain which, if left to dominate, cause us to be hyper-vigilant, overestimating danger and triggering more stress, as well as shutting off our capacity to connect with others. Every time we are exposed to stressful events, directly or indirectly (think news media) our ‘fight or flight’ networks are reinforced. So our brains won’t just take care of themselves. If we want to thrive and not just survive in challenging times, play is something to get serious about.