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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.

Martin 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.

(c) 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