How to Bring More Play Into Your Workday

Raise your hand if your workday often feels like one long, endless to-do list. 🙋‍♀️

Yeah. Me too.

Emails, meetings, deadlines, Slack notifications… by 3 PM, even breathing feels like an accomplishment. And if you’re like most adults, the idea of “adding play” into this chaos sounds… unrealistic.

But here’s the truth: play is not a break from work — it’s the secret to doing your work better, with more energy and creativity.

Why Play at Work Matters

Play activates parts of your brain that stress shuts down:

• Creativity & problem-solving

• Collaboration & connection

• Emotional regulation

When you integrate playful moments into your workday, you’re not being “silly for fun.” You’re being strategic: your brain functions better, your energy lasts longer, and your work feels… lighter.

Micro-Play Strategies You Can Actually Do

Here are a few ways I bring play into my own workday — no special equipment required:

1. The 3-Minute Desk Shake

   • Stand up, shake out your arms, legs, and shoulders. Hum a silly note or make a funny face.

   • Result: instant nervous system reset + burst of energy.

2. Curiosity Breaks

   • Ask yourself: What if I approached this email, task, or problem like a game?

   • Add a playful twist: change your perspective, invent a tiny challenge, or use humor.

3. Mini Creative Sprints

   • Take five minutes to doodle, brainstorm “ridiculous solutions,” or free-write ideas without judgment.

   • Result: sparks creativity and unlocks new insights for your work.

4. Co-Play With a Colleague

   • A 10-minute game, shared challenge, or silly icebreaker can reset collaboration energy.

   • Result: laughter + stronger connection = better teamwork.

5. Movement Micro-Hacks

   • Walk while you take calls, stand for a meeting, or stretch in rhythm to a song.

   • Result: circulation, mood boost, and playful body awareness.

The “Play Mindset”

Play is not just about activities — it’s a mindset. Here’s the secret sauce:

• Give yourself permission to be silly: Stop waiting to be “professional” all the time.

• Remember that small wins count: Five minutes of intentional play is better than no play at all.

• Curiosity is key: Ask yourself questions that spark wonder instead of stress.

Once you embrace the Play Mindset, you’ll notice your workday shifting:

• Meetings feel lighter

• Brainstorms are fun

• Stress doesn’t linger as long

Why This Matters

Play at work isn’t optional — it’s essential. Burnout thrives in seriousness. Play dismantles it, one micro-moment at a time. When you bring joy into your day, everything improves. Energy, creativity, connection, focus… all of it.

Want More Playful Workdays?

Book The Energy Edit — a 90-minute, 1:1 coaching session with me. We’ll  create an energy map to discover what drains vs. restores you, identify your specific burnout pattern, explore how you personally recover according to happiness & play science, and create a regulation menu that you can “order” off of whenever you need it. Reclaim your energy, curiosity, and joy with a plan built just for you.