How Amanda Plays
In this blog I want to share some examples of how I’ve used play in different aspects of my life:
Play in my relationship
I was struggling with being snappy, and short with my boyfriend. In addition to praying for patience and to be slow to anger, I decided to make this a game. Every time I acted this way he could say “Angelica”. For those of you who didn’t grow up in the 90s with me, she is a cartoon character who appears in Nickelodeon's show Rugrats. She is the spoiled brat and serves as the main antagonist of the series. This way he could point out to me in a funny way how I was acting and then it could lighten the mood and we could joke about it.
Play in my relationship
I was struggling with being snappy, and short with my boyfriend. In addition to praying for patience and to be slow to anger, I decided to make this a game. Every time I acted this way he could say “Angelica”. For those of you who didn’t grow up in the 90s with me, she is a cartoon character who appears in Nickelodeon's show Rugrats. She is the spoiled brat and serves as the main antagonist of the series. This way he could point out to me in a funny way how I was acting and then it could lighten the mood and we could joke about it.
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Play at work
My coworkers and I constantly make funny comments and pick on each other in a loving way. Not a day goes by that we don’t laugh at each other for something. It makes us all in a better mood. Laughing is good for the soul and it’s contagious. Can you joke with your coworkers? Try lightening the mood and don’t be so serious all the time.
Play in exercise
I could go on and on about this on. If you do the same things over and over again you will get bored. I love variety and mixing things up. The best way I do this with exercise is by creating a game or changing the repetitions or time intervals of exercises to make it a new exciting challenge. Check out my favorite workout game: card game workout.
Play with my community
I do this in tons of different ways. One is game nights with my friends. We rotate different games and try new ones (again variety!). Two, we’ve done a couple escape rooms. Check it out in your local town. They have different themes and difficulties. Three, the more artsy side we’ve done things like handcrafted night out and wine & design.
I do this in tons of different ways. One is game nights with my friends. We rotate different games and try new ones (again variety!). Two, we’ve done a couple escape rooms. Check it out in your local town. They have different themes and difficulties. Three, the more artsy side we’ve done things like handcrafted night out and wine & design.
These are just a few examples for you to see how play is a part of everything in your life, and if it’s not, it should be.
Later we will talk about how play is important in overcoming sorrow/times of grief, anxiety/depression, motivation to achieve goals and improve mood.
Until then, find little ways you can play at work, in your relationships, being active and with others in your community.
THRIVE On!
AUTHOR:
Amanda Fontaine is considered the Chief FUN Officer of Personal Training and Health/Fitness. She's a Personal Trainer at Empower and Founder of Thrive Alive. She specializes in creating FUN, creative yet challenging workouts for her clients and promoting a lifestyle of play for adults.
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