Article Submission: Play! The Sanity Saver For Tough Times

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Article submission:

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Title: Play! The Sanity Saver For Tough Times

Description: The opposite of work is not play. It's depression.

Learn why play is critical in order to save your sanity and your

work!

Keywords: Eileen McDargh,play,work/life balance,life balance,

stress,play games,stress management,stress relief,work stress,

office stress,relieve stress,stress reduction,reducing stress

Article URL: http://www.eileenmcdargh.com/play_the_sanity.html

Word Count: 649

Entire Article:

Play! The Sanity Saver For Tough Times

The opposite of work is not play. It's depression. So states

psychiatrist Stuart Brown in his new book, Play: How It Shapes

The Brain, Opens The Imagination And Invigorates The Soul.

Brown has conducted more than 6,000 play studies on what goes

wrong when people do not play-studying everything from serial

killers to career-driven CEOs. Given the current plethora of

economic turmoil, negative news, layoff paranoia and growing

unemployment lines, the notion of taking time to play sounds

like a childish daydream. But if Brown is right, we could become

a nation of stress-filled, hypertensive individuals who suffer

far more than we need to and-at the very extreme-become downright

dangerous to ourselves and others.

Brown is not original in his assertion. Anacharsis, a 6th BCE

philosopher insisted that we are to, " Play so that you may be

serious. " Even in the Hellenistic world, play gave rise to

scientists, writers, philosophers, and builders of great

civilizations.

If you consider that the task before us is to build rebuild our

cities, our enterprises, and our global community, then play

becomes the non-chemical stimulant for channeling stress into

productive outputs.

Play takes many forms. The trick is to find one that resonates

with you. Consider these examples:

Marc, a job-hunting, highly skilled communications expert in the

entertainment field, coaches lacrosse when he's not

interviewing. He appears more calm and confident since he started

helping youngsters succeed in his favorite sport.

Glenna, a recent widow and entrepreneur, has started dance

lessons and added Bible study to her spare time. Her laugh comes

easier now and she's discovering new ventures for her skill.

Tom, faced with early retirement, collects Japanese postcards

from the 1900s.

Neil, the CEO of a consulting company, goes to an organic farm

and helps his wife prepare scrumptious vegan meals.

Eunice, a vice president in an international organization rides

her Icelandic horse at every opportunity.

And a president named Obama unwinds with a game of hoops.

Certainly no other leader in modern time has had to face so many

internal and external challenges and yet he finds time to play!

Think of these examples and you'll note that play is as much a

state of mind as it is an activity. It is a mental release that

reduces stress levels in the body and engages the brain in a

totally different type of thinking.

Take these three steps to enter the world of play:

1. Give yourself permission to play. Put a play date with

yourself on the calendar and treat it as sacred as the meeting

with your most important client. Remind yourself that you'll

be refreshed and thinking more clearly if you play.

2. Find the play that best suits you. Start a Play diary,

writing down moments of well-being. It might be something that

occurred during the week. It might be as simple as walking the

dog or as complex as taking an eco-adventure tour. It might be a

romantic night with your best beloved or a sweaty 100-mile bike

ride. Whatever it is-in the doing, you feel a sense of

contentment and joy.

3. Pass play along. Encourage others. Make sure you're not the

driver who keeps employees chained to their desks but rather,

lead the way. If you're in a position to do so, create a Fun

Friday where everyone takes a turn at coming up with something

that evokes joy, laughter, and contentment. One organization

forbade e-mail on Fridays between anyone in the building.

Instead, messages were sent via a paper airplanes.

Buber, German Jewish biblical scholar believed that " play

is the exultation of the possible. " Isn't that what we all are

looking for now-what is possible!

Go play....so you might be serious.

© 2009, McDargh Communications. Publication rights granted to

all venues so long as article and by-line are reprinted intact

and all links are made live.

Since 1980, Hall of Fame speaker Eileen McDargh has helped

Fortune 100 companies as well as individuals create connections

that count and conversations that matter. Executive Excellence

ranks her among the top 100 thought-leaders in leadership

development. To hire Eileen to teach your leaders and staff

Radical Resilience for these difficult times visit

http://www.eileenmcdargh.com/program-radical-resilience.html