Not Just for Kids: Adults Also Need to Play

Productivity demands in adulthood often make play feel like a waste of time. However, play plays a crucial role in managing stress, building relationships, and maintaining mental flexibility. Adults are strongly advised to continue making time for fun to preserve mental and emotional well-being amid daily responsibilities that often lead to chronic fatigue. Art therapist and owner of NeuroArts Therapy and Consulting, Megan Collins, MA, LMFT, explains that play encompasses any activity where the process is far more important than the end result. “You do it because it’s enjoyable, not to produce something or impress anyone,” she said, citing Real Simple on Thursday, 28 May 2026. In adulthood, forms of play can vary widely. The mindset of prioritising enjoyment is more important than the activity itself. “For adults, play might look like daydreaming, picking up a paintbrush without a plan, or tending a garden without worrying about perfection,” Collins said. Even singing wholeheartedly in the shower or dancing while waiting for food to cook counts as adult play. Licensed therapist Alyssa Kushner states that play can halt the survival mode triggered by perceived threats. “Many adults live in a state of chronic anxiety, urgency, stress, and emotional exhaustion. Play helps us step out of tension mode,” she said. “Empathy continues to develop and shape throughout adulthood. Through play, people gain and expand their capacity to understand others’ perspectives and experiences,” explained Meera Khan, clinical director and clinical psychologist at LifeStance Health. Play greatly enhances neurocognitive flexibility. These moments of fun also create space to experiment with new identities or emotional experiences.