Article Overview:
Play is the antidote. When you play, you trigger the Parasympathetic Nervous System. When you activate the Parasympathetic Nervous System, you allow the body to adapt and recover. This may sound counterintuitive when you are in this state, and the best thing to do is start small. When you are feeling good, create a note on your phone of all the activities that bring you joy, then when you notice the stress building up, consult your playlist and set aside 5-10 min to play. Notice how you feel after, and celebrate your effort by throwing your fist in the air.
One of the benefits of play is that you create a safe place for people to be their authentic self. Play is a vulnerable activity, and when applied correctly you create oxytocin and serotonin in the participants. Those are the neurochemicals in the brain connected to trust and belonging. If you are going to have tough conversations, especially at work, I suggest you start with some playful elements like mirroring movement activities, or word association. This will create that safe space needed to have these uncomfortable conversations. It will also prime the attendees to start thinking differently. When people share, have the group do something symbolic like jazz hands to show they have each other’s back. It may sound silly, and it is, and it is also an effective way to help teams communicate in an inclusive way.