Have More Fun!

Making time for play is good no matter your age

-By Amy Lynn Smith

THINK BACK TO YOUR CHILDHOOD. Remember how great it felt to come home from school and
have some playtime? It gave you a chance to do exactly as you pleased for a while before starting your homework or having dinner. There's a reason that felt so good. For a little while there were no rules, no pressure, just pure fun. The best part is, this feeling doesn't have to stop. Grown-ups can benefit from play just as much as kids do. In fact, it may be even more important to make time for play as you get older. "There's a lot of evidence that play-type activities are important contributors to your quality of life, and to your physical and mental health," says Howard E.A. Tinsley, Ph.D., FALS, psychology professor and a member of the American Psychological Association.

According to Tinsley, there are several reasons leisure activities produce happy, healthy people. The freedom to choose an activity you enjoy-and doing something for no reason other than it's fun-are two of the most important."You're in control and you can decide how and when you're going to play," he explains. "You're choosing activities that are intrinsically enjoyable, that aren't too stimulating or too boring."

Every person's definition of "fun" is different. Some people have the best time in the company of others, while some prefer a solitary or quieter pursuit. Do what you like best, whether it's playing touch football with family and friends, or spending time on a craft or artistic hobby like painting. Don't discount childhood favorites either, like coloring (with actual crayons!), baking cookies for no good reason, putting on music and dancing around your living room or, in the case of Tinsley and his wife, bringing out the jigsaw puzzles. "Play is a wonderfully self-directed area of your life," says the doctor. "You can basically create a situation that puts you in control and helps you become happier and healthier."