Joanna Fortune
Appearances
Something You Should Know
The Transformative Power of Play & How Habits Stick - SYSK Choice
Yes. Yes. And no, I mean, when I ask that question of people, as I do within my work all of the time, it's, you know, oh, I don't play anymore. I used to, but I don't anymore. And when we go back and think about what is it you used to do and why was that fun for you? And when is the last time. Many people will report back that actually, you know, I did look that up or I did try to do that again.
Something You Should Know
The Transformative Power of Play & How Habits Stick - SYSK Choice
It may not feel exactly the same as an adult, as it may have done for you as a child. And also maybe our play preferences have shifted over the course of growing up. And while I used to like to play in this whimsical way, now that makes me feel a little too self-conscious and silly. I'm not there anymore. Actually, now I like to play in a more structured and ordered way.
Something You Should Know
The Transformative Power of Play & How Habits Stick - SYSK Choice
So I've joined a team or I've joined an art class, or I'm in a group with like-minded others. And that's where I'm getting a similar level of pleasure. So our play patterns change as we change. And that is the job, isn't it? The job over the course of our life is to grow and develop. And that's not just the journey of childhood, that's the trajectory of life.
Something You Should Know
The Transformative Power of Play & How Habits Stick - SYSK Choice
I mean, I think whatever we think it is, there's usually something else to that. Not that what we're telling ourselves is not true, but there might be a little subcontext to that as well, because modern life is frenetically paced and it's extremely busy and demanding.
Something You Should Know
The Transformative Power of Play & How Habits Stick - SYSK Choice
But if we're really honest with ourselves, could we repurpose some of the time that we are maybe devoting to social media or scrolling or screen time or TV watching? Could we maybe repurpose some of that time? So actually we do have the time, but we need to prioritize how we're using our time because it's when we forget to play for a prolonged extended period of time that we see the impact.
Something You Should Know
The Transformative Power of Play & How Habits Stick - SYSK Choice
And that impact initially might be the job that I once loved has now become something I endure rather than enjoy. And I've become more rigid and this is the way we do it and I will never change the way I do it. And usually when we get to that point in any aspect of our lives that we feel a stuckness You know, I just feel stuck. Something's amiss.
Something You Should Know
The Transformative Power of Play & How Habits Stick - SYSK Choice
That's usually an indicator that we have forgotten to play. And that's when we need to bring the playfulness back in.
Something You Should Know
The Transformative Power of Play & How Habits Stick - SYSK Choice
I mean, I think it could be play depending on what you do with it. I mean, I think at one point that is, for me, that's a good example. For me, I would deem reading a very relaxing activity. It's something I do when actually I'm seeking to escape. I want to immerse myself, particularly if I'm reading fiction, immerse myself into another world.
Something You Should Know
The Transformative Power of Play & How Habits Stick - SYSK Choice
But to maximize the play benefit from something like reading, I would strongly advocate that when you have finished the book, that you consider if you were the author of the book How would you change the ending? What would you put in? What would you take out? What new character would you create? What would their name be? What features and traits would they have?
Something You Should Know
The Transformative Power of Play & How Habits Stick - SYSK Choice
Who would you connect them to in the story and at what point of the story? And how would that change the outcome? Now write that new ending. I think when you can get into it at that level, now it's playfulness. Because now you're engaged in creative, imaginative, projective, narrative play. And books can be a great doorway into that.
Something You Should Know
The Transformative Power of Play & How Habits Stick - SYSK Choice
I would, um, I would probably say, try to practice a blend of both. I definitely enjoy. solo play, especially when I'm in a headspace where I know I just need to do something to reset my busy brain, then I want to do something on my own.
Something You Should Know
The Transformative Power of Play & How Habits Stick - SYSK Choice
And that could be for me, anything from jumping in a puddle outside to doing something like the drawing technique or building with some Lego blocks on my own, just doing something that's very much me doing it. And story-based play actually lends itself very well to that.
Something You Should Know
The Transformative Power of Play & How Habits Stick - SYSK Choice
But I also think that we, in order to invest in our relationships, I think that we do need to have some openness and connection to other directed play or other oriented play, which would mean that you can engage with a play partner. And that could be, you know, if you're in a relationship, an intimate partner, it could also be an adult sibling, an adult friend, you know, it doesn't have to be
Something You Should Know
The Transformative Power of Play & How Habits Stick - SYSK Choice
any one particular person. You may have a play partner in different parts of your life, but that you can do that serve and return and you can play with somebody. I think that's about strengthening connection and play ultimately is a relational experience.
Something You Should Know
The Transformative Power of Play & How Habits Stick - SYSK Choice
I think everybody is different, but at the same time, I don't want to just say that. I do want to emphasize that I believe when you make play a daily practice over a period of time, even consistently every day for 10 to 14 days, you will begin to see positive impact. That doesn't mean, oh, I got the positive impact and now I stop, but that's a sign that you keep going. This is working for me.
Something You Should Know
The Transformative Power of Play & How Habits Stick - SYSK Choice
But there is a healthy dose of reluctance when I say to people, oh, you know, we should all be more playful. Intellectually, I get an overwhelming, yes, definitely. But then when I say, so when's the last time you sat at your desk and blew some bubbles? People do look at me with a little bit of, are you serious?
Something You Should Know
The Transformative Power of Play & How Habits Stick - SYSK Choice
I'm going to keep doing this. But now that I'm getting comfortable, you know, you want to have fun, but you don't want it to be so predictable, it becomes a bit boring and dull for you. I think in terms of how much time every day that's going to be different in each of our lives, some of us will benefit from having multiple mini play breaks, one to five minutes scattered throughout our day.
Something You Should Know
The Transformative Power of Play & How Habits Stick - SYSK Choice
Some of us will benefit from ring fencing a block of time and sitting down and really absorbing ourselves in the play activity. And some of us will only know which way we fall by trying out both. But I would say a minimum of 15 minutes a day is enough to start creating a new habit, a new default experience that, oh, you know,
Something You Should Know
The Transformative Power of Play & How Habits Stick - SYSK Choice
I'm just going to quite naturally play because once you start doing this, you will see opportunities for play all around you. You may even be in one of those coffee shops that like to write your name on the mug and the cup. And you can actually in that moment say, well, today I'm going to be and give a new name. And what way would that person behave or speak or move?
Something You Should Know
The Transformative Power of Play & How Habits Stick - SYSK Choice
And for the duration of time that it simply takes you to pick up the cup of coffee you order every morning, you've had a play experience. So you will find openings and opportunities for playfulness without having to consciously plan them once this has become part of your daily routine.
Something You Should Know
The Transformative Power of Play & How Habits Stick - SYSK Choice
Thank you so much for having me. Lovely to speak with you.
Something You Should Know
The Transformative Power of Play & How Habits Stick - SYSK Choice
Great to be here, Michael. Thanks for having me.
Something You Should Know
The Transformative Power of Play & How Habits Stick - SYSK Choice
I think we do, Michael, understand that play has a really important role in the lives of children. And I also think as adults, we see our role within the play narrative as being to support children in playing, to play with them and to let them lead the way.
Something You Should Know
The Transformative Power of Play & How Habits Stick - SYSK Choice
All of which is true, but equally true is that whether you be a parent or not, right across the trajectory of our lives, we continue to need play. And it's about really challenging that concept of play being a box of toys in the corner of a room and really reaching into that idea that play is a state of mind.
Something You Should Know
The Transformative Power of Play & How Habits Stick - SYSK Choice
And a playful mind is one that is flexible and adaptable and is therefore amenable to change.
Something You Should Know
The Transformative Power of Play & How Habits Stick - SYSK Choice
Well, that's such a great question because I'm smiling as I'm answering it, because for me, I still would play in what would be deemed quite a whimsical play pattern. I like the messy play, the painting, the finger painting, the Play-Doh. Others amongst us are playing, but we're not calling it play and we're not crediting ourselves with being as playful as perhaps we are.
Something You Should Know
The Transformative Power of Play & How Habits Stick - SYSK Choice
Some of us will have tendencies that are more intellectual based play. You know, it could be those of us who wouldn't let a day go by without doing the crossword or wordle or Sudoku or jigsaws. And we really love those complicated jigsaw puzzles or the 3D versions.
Something You Should Know
The Transformative Power of Play & How Habits Stick - SYSK Choice
Or we might play with Lego, but it's got to be one of those big complicated things where we're building the Eiffel Tower or something like that. Play that really stimulates the mind. That is still play. And there's others amongst us who might be listening going, no, neither of those are me. But you might be somebody who has very other oriented play.
Something You Should Know
The Transformative Power of Play & How Habits Stick - SYSK Choice
You enjoy group activities, team sports, being part of a league, being part of a training session on a regular basis. And that's your type of play.
Something You Should Know
The Transformative Power of Play & How Habits Stick - SYSK Choice
Well, it's so interesting because I put out a question, you know, not that this is, you know, solid research, but I put out a question on social media asking people, you know, do you consider yourself playful? And most people said yes. And when I asked, are you happy with how much access that you have to play right now in your life, the answer was overwhelmingly no.
Something You Should Know
The Transformative Power of Play & How Habits Stick - SYSK Choice
And when I further queried what was the greatest block, it was a combination of time and opportunity, but also self-consciousness. And I'm asking that question, Michael, to people who are already following me on social media. That's what I mean. It's not proper research. There is a bias there. They're already following me for this type of content.
Something You Should Know
The Transformative Power of Play & How Habits Stick - SYSK Choice
And while I'm talking with people who see themselves as playful, who enjoy playfulness, there's still a cohort of people who feel they are not getting enough access to play. So that was really striking for me. So I would think, I really do think this, by the way, that with very rare exception, we all have capacity to be playful. I think it's innate in us.
Something You Should Know
The Transformative Power of Play & How Habits Stick - SYSK Choice
I think for some of us, our play muscles may be a little rusty, a little stiff, a little underdeveloped, and there's always a story behind that. But I think we all have capacity to live more playful lives. What that will look and sound and feel like for each of us is going to be different. But I think that we should all stretch ourselves a little and say, how much more playful could we be?
Something You Should Know
The Transformative Power of Play & How Habits Stick - SYSK Choice
Simply because of the benefits, you know, we know that this kind of creative, curious mind, and we, you know, it's worth holding that in mind that a curious mind is a playful mind. So if you're somebody who likes to work out solutions to problems, who will find yourself looking at a situation thinking, I wonder, I wonder if I did this, and I wonder, could we try it that way?
Something You Should Know
The Transformative Power of Play & How Habits Stick - SYSK Choice
you're already entering into that playful state of mind.
Something You Should Know
The Transformative Power of Play & How Habits Stick - SYSK Choice
So I think yes. Most people are open to this, but there is a healthy dose of reluctance. Let me put it that way in terms of when I say to people, oh, you know, we should all be more playful intellectually. I get an overwhelming yes, definitely. But then when I say, so when's the last time you sat at your desk at work and blew some bubbles and pop them with your finger?
Something You Should Know
The Transformative Power of Play & How Habits Stick - SYSK Choice
People do look at me with a little bit of, are you serious? And then yes, yes, I'm afraid I am. I'm serious. But you know, Michael, if you're starting something new, none of us should start at the point of greatest resistance, really. So if you heard me say blow bubbles and you're like, nope, I'm out, fear not. That is one form of play and there are many others.
Something You Should Know
The Transformative Power of Play & How Habits Stick - SYSK Choice
Maybe you're going to build up to the bubble blowing, but you're not starting there if that's where you feel greatest resistance.
Something You Should Know
The Transformative Power of Play & How Habits Stick - SYSK Choice
So, for example, in my own desk drawer, I would keep a little play pack so that I have this daily play break. So in my play pack, I would have something as simple. And this is something that you could start with. Simply take a piece of paper and take a pencil into your hands. Start, you know, you're going to naturally pick it up in whatever your dominant hand is.
Something You Should Know
The Transformative Power of Play & How Habits Stick - SYSK Choice
But I'm now going to ask you to swap it over to your non-dominant hand. I place the pencil on a piece of paper and I close my eyes. And as I count slowly backwards from 15 to 1, I just move that pencil all around the page, making a scribble, a mark. When I get to one, I open my eyes, swap the pencil back to my dominant hand, turn the page 180 degrees. So the other way around, in other words.
Something You Should Know
The Transformative Power of Play & How Habits Stick - SYSK Choice
And then I add features onto it just for a couple of minutes. And I out of that chaos, I create order. I create something recognizable. That's a play break. Nobody's going to see you do that. Nobody's going to be like, what are you doing doodling on that page? It's not unusual in a workspace to pick up a paper and pencil. So this is something that you can do in a much less self-conscious way.
Something You Should Know
The Transformative Power of Play & How Habits Stick - SYSK Choice
But within that play pack in my desk, while I would have something like that, I also have a small little tub of putty because sometimes when I need to concentrate on something, it helps me to roll, to stretch, to pull, to make shapes out of Play-Doh or putty. And that's something that's very sensory. It helps to pull me out of my head and anchor me down into the now moments.
Something You Should Know
The Transformative Power of Play & How Habits Stick - SYSK Choice
The only reason I mentioned bubbles is because for me, I find it a really good and playful way to regulate my breath. If I'm feeling under pressure, if I can feel myself getting a little bit stressed, Because in blowing bubbles, you have to take a deep breath in and you exhale through your mouth. But in doing it through bubbles, your focus is on playfulness, not just take a breath and calm down.
Something You Should Know
The Transformative Power of Play & How Habits Stick - SYSK Choice
Because in the history of being stressed out, anybody telling you to take a breath and calm down really doesn't calm you down.
Something You Should Know
The Transformative Power of Play & How Habits Stick - SYSK Choice
Oh, absolutely. I mean, children are definitely handy to have around when it comes to saying I'm going to get more playful. But, you know, it's a different type of play when we're playing with children, because there are two ways as parents of playing with children. You know, we either follow their lead. It's very child directed and in a way that we can avoid saying, how was your day?
Something You Should Know
The Transformative Power of Play & How Habits Stick - SYSK Choice
What did you do? Where did you go? Who did you speak to? What happened? And the children look at us and they're like, I am done with the Q&A part of my day. I'm giving you nothing. So if you want to know how their day was joined them in their world and language of play on the floor, it's all happening there. That's how they process make meaning.
Something You Should Know
The Transformative Power of Play & How Habits Stick - SYSK Choice
Or maybe within our playing with children, we have a little bit of an agenda. We want to do, for example, some impulse control. So we're going to play games like mother. May I, Simon says red light, green light games. That's, you know, start, stop, start, stop. Take your cue from the adult in charge that there is a little bit of an agenda. in there and that is child focused adult led play.
Something You Should Know
The Transformative Power of Play & How Habits Stick - SYSK Choice
So the, when we're playing with children, it tends to be oriented around the children. Playfulness in our adult lives is about giving back to ourselves. It's really about looking at what sparks joy for me. And when is the last time I got to do that? And what is getting in the way? Could I maybe make some space to do something like that?
Something You Should Know
The Transformative Power of Play & How Habits Stick - SYSK Choice
And what would be a small change that could make a big difference in this regard?
Something You Should Know
The Transformative Power of Play & How Habits Stick - SYSK Choice
Well, I mean, playfulness in the life of adults in terms of its psychosocial impact is understudied, if anything. But the studies that are there and the research that is available does point to a myriad of pro-social benefits and psychological benefits. Also, the workplace, you know, Dr. Stuart Brown has done significant research about
Something You Should Know
The Transformative Power of Play & How Habits Stick - SYSK Choice
playfulness in the workplace and you know what is coming up there is that when we do encourage playfulness in our workplace we see more productive team members we see productivity rates increase we see happier employees and a happier employee means a more productive healthy work environment so far from being seen that you are you know skiving off or not taking your work seriously
Something You Should Know
The Transformative Power of Play & How Habits Stick - SYSK Choice
building time for play breaks, even in the workplace is proven to improve your productivity and your flexibility and adaptability, all of which are essential skills in the workforce. So while it's under researched, the research that's there is really encouraging that this is not just something nice for us to do. It is actually essential for us to do it.