The Power of Playfulness in Adulthood
At some point, adulthood transformed into this big, weighty performance where we’re all supposed to be mature, responsible, sensible human beings with colour-coordinated sock drawers and three-year plans. We talk about taxes, bin day, meal planning, and moisturiser like they’re thrilling plot points.
When Did Adulthood Get So… Serious?
And yes, adulthood is serious sometimes - bills, work, family, health, life admin, the unrelenting conveyor belt of chores. But does that mean we have to abandon the part of ourselves that laughs at stupid jokes, makes up silly songs, runs through the house in socks, and treats life like something more than a to-do list?
Absolutely not.
Playfulness is not childishness. It’s not immaturity. It’s the antidote to a life that sometimes feels like one long spreadsheet.
Play Isn’t a Luxury - It’s a Release Valve
Life is stressful. Women juggle work, households, childcare, the mental load, the emotional load, and the weight of everyone else’s expectations. It’s a lot. So when you give yourself permission to be playful - even briefly - you’re letting off pressure in the simplest possible way.
A stupid little moment can genuinely shift your entire mood. Dancing in your hallway. Singing badly in the car. Putting on an accent while talking to your pet. Playing a board game. Trying a craft that ends in disaster. Laughing until you can’t breathe. These moments don’t “fix” life, but they soften it.
Your Inner Child Never Left - She Just Got Buried Under Responsibilities
There’s still a version of you who loves silliness. Who giggles. Who wants to run around on holiday. Who wants to make sandcastles. Who wants to chase pigeons through a square. Who wants to jump into the sea even though it’s freezing. Who wants to be light.
She didn’t disappear. She just got quieter as life got louder.
Play gives her a microphone again.
Playfulness Connects Us (And Makes Life Less Awkward)
Some of the best moments between adults happen when we let our guard down: inside jokes, shared laughter, bad karaoke, stupid dancing at weddings, a spontaneous decision to go on a swing in the park. These moments bond us because they’re real, relaxed, and free of judgement.
Women connect deeply through play - whether that’s doing a puzzle together, going to a theme park, hosting a kitchen disco, trying a new craft, or just having a genuinely chaotic night out that ends in chips at 1 am.
Playfulness turns acquaintances into friends and relationships into safe havens.
You Don’t Have to Be Fun All the Time
This isn’t about forcing joy or pretending everything’s okay. It’s about noticing when life feels too tight, too rigid, too serious - and giving yourself small pockets of softness in the middle of the chaos.
Some days, play might feel impossible. That’s okay. It’s not another thing to add to your list. It’s an option - one that’s always available when you’re ready to reach for it.
How to Invite More Play Into Your Daily Life
You don’t need grand gestures. You don’t need an itinerary. You don’t need to free up an entire afternoon and call it “intentional leisure exploration.”
You just need little sparks.
A silly moment.
A spontaneous decision.
Something that makes you feel human - not robotic.
Go down the slide with your toddler.
Dance in your living room.
Try a new recipe and laugh when it goes wrong.
Build a Lego set.
Colour in.
Play a game.
Wear something fun.
Challenge someone to a race (even if you lose).
Make ridiculous bets with your partner.
Let yourself enjoy things without analysing them.
Joy Doesn’t Need an Explanation
Adults spend too much time justifying their happiness. “I love this show because-” “I enjoy this hobby because-” “I’m doing this to relax because-”
Stop.
Joy is reason enough.
Playfulness is reason enough.
Wanting to feel light for a second in a heavy world is reason enough.
Let Yourself Be a Little Ridiculous
One of the most freeing decisions you can make is allowing yourself to be ridiculous without shame. Life is too short to be serious all the time. Too short to hold in your laughter. Too short to prioritise productivity over presence. Too short to dim your joy because someone might judge you for acting silly.
If silliness makes your day 1% better, isn’t that worth it?
The Power of Choosing Lightness on Purpose
Choosing play doesn’t mean ignoring reality. It means refusing to let seriousness swallow you whole. It means remembering that you’re not just here to work, clean, plan, cope, and endure.
You’re here to live.
To laugh.
To feel things.
To make memories.
To enjoy moments.
To create moments.
To be human.
Letting in playfulness is choosing to be a little more alive.
Say Yes to Play, Even If You Feel Rusty
If play feels foreign, start small. You don’t have to go full chaos gremlin (unless you want to). You just have to open the door to moments that feel light, silly, spontaneous, or joyous.
Play is an act of rebellion. Play is an act of self-care. Play is an act of remembering yourself.
Say yes to it.
You deserve it.
And honestly? Life is simply better when you let yourself have a laugh.
