I’m not sure why we equate “playtime” to childishness. But I also see that changing.

Over the years, I’ve personally experienced that incorporating play into my day works as an antidote to writer’s block. Playing helps distract your mind from the fact that you’re not parked in front of your computer or notebook, unleashing the next great story on the world. Playing helps take the edge off and loosens up your thoughts.

As writers, I feel that we put a lot of pressure on ourselves to generate pages and pages. Some writers advise that you write daily. I think that’s a lot to ask in this economy. After a while, the creative well will dry up.

We’re not machines, and we’re certainly not AI. We can’t regurgitate blocks of text and hope something fresh and new comes out of it. And while you can’t call yourself a writer unless you put the words down, playing can be a valuable tool in the creative process.

Play could be acting up on an empty playground (but because we’re still not keen on adults playing with kids’ things, be mindful of that and don’t break anything), painting, using a coloring book, singing karaoke, knitting, basically any activity unrelated to reading or writing.

I grew up during the rise and the multiple falls of the video game industry. Growing up during the nineties, I have many great memories of playing video games. So, that’s my go-to “playtime” activity. I’m a diehard Pokémon Go player (Day One, baby!), and also making my way through Pokémon Violet, Disney Dreamlight Valley, and Disney Speedstorm, and loving every minute.

Sometimes, when my nervous energy is at its peak, I’ll put my phone on shuffle and sing my heart out. I have a Bluetooth mic that syncs with my iPhone, and I let myself go crazy. If I’m feeling extra goofy, I’ll change the lyrics to be about my dog. She doesn’t understand a blessed word, but she’s a good sport!

But I am an adult with adult responsibilities, so I try to limit my playtime to one hour a night. Of course, if I’ve addressed said responsibilities and it’s close to bedtime anyway, I’ll play until I fall asleep!