How play boosts your creativity and resilience | Katina Bajaj

Modern society faces a pervasive play deprivation crisis, as efficiency and achievement have systematically replaced the spontaneity and wonder essential to human well-being. Play is not merely a childhood activity but a fundamental, lifelong trait characterized by intrinsic motivation and the freedom to explore without predetermined outcomes. Restoring this capacity requires shifting our approach in three key areas: embracing nonlinear thinking and daydreaming at work, welcoming productive friction and experimentation at home, and actively participating in or amplifying playful moments in public spaces. By reclaiming play, individuals can strengthen resilience, foster original ideas, and combat the rigidity and polarization often found in modern institutions. This inherent human capacity, described by anthropologists as "making special," remains vital for bonding, adaptation, and finding meaning, regardless of one's age or professional responsibilities.