by Marissa Heyl

Can I let you in on a startling statistic? The average four-year-old laughs 40 times a day, while the average 40-year-old laughs just four. Isn’t that just heartbreaking? What happened to us? Where did all that giggly, carefree joy go?

 

I’ll tell you what happened – we got judged for it. As we got older, we were taught that play is frivolous, especially in the workplace, where we’re supposed to be all business, all the time. But here’s the thing: emerging neuroscience research shows that play is fundamental to our health, for adults just as much as children.

 

Let’s be real, the last few years have been a doozy for our collective mental health. We’re battling burnout, loneliness, and a general sense that the old way of doing things just isn’t cutting it anymore. So what if we stopped trying to be productivity machines and instead, started bringing a little more joy, wonder, and connection into the daily grind?

 

Play reduces stress, improves feelings of optimism, and builds connection – all the things we desperately need to thrive in our workplaces. Losing touch with play is bad news for our brains, and it’s contributing to a crushing drop in retention and productivity. Who in their right mind would feel inspired to do their best work in a joyless, soul-crushing “gray box” of an office?

 

We spend a whopping one-third of our lives at work. What if, during that time, the workplace could actually function as a prime environment to support us in reaching our greatest potential? A space where play serves as a crucial element, fostering connection and collaboration, catering to our physical, social, and emotional needs?

 

Emerging neuroscience research makes it crystal clear – play is just as vital for our health and wellbeing as adults as it is for little ones. Play releases a huge dose of feel-good hormones like dopamine, oxytocin, serotonin and endorphins, helping us feel more optimistic, connected, and alive. Studies show that when people get to play at work, they experience way less stress, fatigue, and burnout. Just ask Claire Pczyetelc, a researcher at the Research School of Management at the Australian National University.

 

So what if we started seeing the office as a place to not just punch the clock, but to truly thrive? Imagine a workspace that felt more like a vibrant hub of creativity and connection, rather than a drab, joyless gray box. Turns out, playful environments can boost innovation and problem-solving by up to 20%.

 

In fact, the opposite of play isn’t work at all – it’s depression. According to psychiatrist Dr. Stuart Brown, founder of the National Institute for Play, the lack of play in our lives can be a serious health risk, both mentally and physically. Its importance is so great that the lack of it “should be treated like malnutrition.” We desperately need more play, joy, and community in our lives. Now is the time to reimagine our workplaces as a microcosm through which to resolve these greater societal issues head-on.

 

Are you ready to ditch the old, stuffy workplace paradigm and embrace the magic of play? Let’s do this. The future of work is ours to create.

 

Here are some of my tips to curate a playful environment at work, based on Stanford school’s development of the Design for Belonging levers.

 

Playful Spaces and Environments

• Design workspaces with playful elements like flexible seating, creative decor, and dedicated areas for informal play
  • Neuroscience data: A playful environment can stimulate the brain’s prefrontal cortex, enhancing mood and cognitive function, leading to better decision-making and increased engagement.

Playful Communication

• Incorporate humor, levity, and a spirit of playfulness into company communications, policies, and overall branding.
  • Neuroscience data: Laughter and humor stimulate the release of endorphins and oxytocin, fostering trust and strengthening interpersonal connections.

Playful Groupings and Teamwork

• Facilitate Team Play to Strengthen Relationships: Organize regular team-building activities that are fun and playful, such as escape rooms, trivia, or sports.
  • Neuroscience data: Participating in playful team activities increases levels of oxytocin and serotonin, enhancing social bonding and trust among team members.

Playful Rituals and Routines

• Introduce regular “micro-breaks” for playful pursuits like puzzles, games, or light physical exercises.
  • Neuroscience data: Micro-breaks that involve play can reduce cortisol levels, lowering stress and improving focus when returning to work.
• Create Playful Challenges to Boost Engagement: Design fun challenges or competitions that are relevant to work goals, such as gamified tasks or playful problem-solving.
  • Neuroscience Data: Engaging in playful challenges can increase the release of oxytocin, which is associated with social bonding and trust. This boosts engagement and creates a more cohesive team environment.

Playful Leadership

• Encourage leaders to model playful behavior and create a safe, supportive environment for play in the workplace. Use gamification techniques to approach complex problems, turning them into playful challenges.
  • Neuroscience data: When leaders engage in playful behavior, it can activate mirror neurons in employees, fostering a culture of playfulness that boosts morale and job satisfaction.

About the Author

Marissa Heyl is a design strategist and neurodesigner who builds environments of belonging for all to thrive at work. Her designs encourage everyday brain-healthy practices and democratize access to multidimensional health in the workplace. Named a Top Creative Entrepreneur in Dallas-Fort Worth, Marissa has been featured as a speaker and workshop facilitator for a range of organizations including Delta Airlines, The Center for Brain Health, TCU, and the U.S. Play Coalition.

She is passionate about leveraging design for social change, having worked with underrepresented artisan partners for the past 15 years in her sustainable retail ventures. Marissa holds a certification in Design Thinking from global innovation firm IDEO and graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a dual degree in Journalism and Anthropology.