Why play is at the heart of creativity
Today, we’re gonna be talking about play and how this is connected to creativity. The reason that I want to talk about this is because I have talked to so many women of color, who are craving and dreaming up living a more creative life but struggle to see how play fits into the picture. If this sounds interesting to you and want to learn more then keep reading.
Scroll down to keep reading the post or
Watch the video on YouTube and subscribe to my channel here
Listen to this episode on The Creative Baddie Blooming Show Podcast
Listen on Apple Podcasts / Listen on Spotify
I know this all too well because this was me a few years ago. I put too much pressure on myself. I expected that everything I made had to be amazing. This created a lot of unnecessary stress on myself, which made it really hard to enjoy my creative process.
I also approached my creativity like I did other things in my life at that time, like a chore, just one more thing to check off of my to do list. I underestimated the value that play brings into our creative practice. Whenever someone suggested that I play more, I just ignored the advice. I thought to myself, “this sounds really stupid, silly, what a waste of time…”
I didn't understand what play meant or looked like as an adult with many responsibilities. I thought of play as something that only kids did. So believe me when I say, I know what this feels like to not play and how much it holds us back with our creativity.
My hope is that after reading this post, you'll walk away with a better understanding of what play is and why it's so beneficial for us as creatives and human beings in both our creativity and personal development. So that you can start to see play as an invitation to create without putting pressure on yourself.
So, what is play?
First, let’s talk about what play is.
The internet’s definition of play is defined as engaging in activity for enjoyment and recreation rather than a serious or practical purpose.
In other words, play is an activity that you do for pleasure, fun, and enjoyment, where you’re not concerned about achieving or producing anything.You’re simply enjoying the moment and having fun in a way that resonates with you. I want to emphasize that play is slightly different for different people. What I find fun, might not be fun for another person, so it has to resonate with you.
Different types of play
Did you know that there are many types of play? Yes, this is a whole area of study under Child Development. Personally, this blew my mind the first time I came across this information. I didn’t know play can look like many different things.
For the sake of time, I'm just going to give you a brief overview of five different types of play. There are many more out there but I want to stick to the ones that feel most relevant to creativity. Then, I’ll go over some of the qualities that make play different from other kinds of activities.
If you find this interesting and you want to learn more, I encourage you to explore more on your own. This is definitely a really fascinating topic that I think we could spend years reading and learning about. But like I said, we'll just stick to the basics.
There is physical, exploratory, constructive, fantasy, and social play just to name a few.
For example:
Physical Play: Involves physical activity and use of motor skills.
Exploratory Play: Is about exploring something new or unfamiliar
Constructive Play: Emphasizes building or creating something (closely related to creativity)
Fantasy Play: Utilizes imagination and pretending (storytelling)
Social Play: Teaches collaboration and interaction with others, adding layers of enjoyment through shared experiences.
Qualities of Play
Now, let's go over some of the qualities that make play different from other types of activities. Again, I'm only focusing on six qualities to keep this concise but there are many others.
Active: Engages both mind and body.
Adventurous: Encourages exploration of new ideas.
Enjoyable: Put simply, it’s fun!
Voluntary: Must be chosen as an activity.
Meaningful: Should resonate with you personally.
Therapeutic: Promotes relaxation and well-being.
With this out of the way, I hope you’re hopefully starting to understand just how beneficial play is not just for children but also for adults and to help us all live a more fulfilling life.
What does play have to do with creativity?
If you're still wondering how play ties into creativity, let’s explore some of the common themes they share.
Exploration and Curiosity: Play allows us to explore ideas and ways of doing things outside of the box, without worrying too much about specific outcomes, helping us to cultivate an open mind and curious attitude. These are essential skills all creatives need to thrive.
Learning and Expressing Ourselves: Play allows us to learn about our creative medium and ourselves in a fun and enjoyable way. It makes creating not only mentally stimulating but also nourishing for our creative spirit.
Healing and Meaning: Play brings a therapeutic element to our creative work, helping us release tension and channel our creative energy towards well-being. Plus, engaging in something meaningful boosts our sense of fulfillment and purpose.
Tips to incorporate play into you creative practice
Here are some tips to help you to start infusing playfulness into your creative practice:
Open-ended Explorations: Dedicate time for creative pursuits without pressure. Create with the sole intention of enjoyment.
Work with Fun Mediums: Choose creative activities that excite you personally. Fun is subjective, so find what sparks joy for you.
Create in Community: Engage in collaborative activities or spaces with others who share your passions. It fosters social play and enhances mental well-being.
In summary, integrating play into your creative practice allows your creativity to thrive effortlessly. You relax, experiment freely, and the journey becomes a stress-free adventure, providing room for growth and learning at any age.
Renata is a creativity coach empowering neurodivergent and multi-passionate women of color creatives to overcome creative blocks with therapeutic art making and strategic planning so they can create with ease and achieve their creative goals. She’s currently offering a free copy of her therapeutic art making workbook when you sign up for her email list.
Sign up here to get your free copy.
