Make time to play to boost joy

With summer officially kicked off, what better time to launch my Flourishing Friday series.

Each Friday, I’ll be sharing key takeaways from my book, Withering to Flourishing. I published it during COVID and five years later, I still love this little book, which shared what helped me bloom again after a long season of sadness and depression. If you’re navigating your own storm or simply want to reconnect with joy, I hope you’ll follow along.

A quick backstory: After weathering a very difficult chapter in life, I emerged feeling emotionally stuck. While the depression had lifted, I was still caught in a mental fog, unable to move forward or feel fully alive. Writing Withering to Flourishing was part of my healing journey—sharing nine practical steps that helped me thrive again.

And since it’s summertime, let’s kick things off with one of the most joyful practices in the book: Cultivate a Childlike Spirit (Chapter 7).

We need more play in our life.

In our screen-saturated world—between endless news cycles, remote jobs, and binge-worthy shows—our brains are overstimulated, our bodies inactive, and our spirits worn down by adult responsibilities. But having a childlike spirit and embracing play is powerful. Just watch children at a playground and you’ll remember what pure, unfiltered joy looks like.

According to the National Institute for Play, engaging in playful activities as adults offers some incredible benefits:

• Emotional & mental health – Play reduces stress, lowers cortisol, and boosts mood.
• Cognitive health – It enhances creativity, sharpens memory, and may reduce the risk of dementia.
• Social connection – (My personal favorite!) Play brings people together. It fosters empathy, trust, and meaningful relationships.

I invited more joy back into my life.

This chapter was inspired by a summer day at the Orange County Fair. I took my 9-year-old daughter and her friends, and while watching their laughter and excitement, I thought, I want more of that in my life.

Here is what I did:

• I started gardening, which became a source of grounding and growth. I loved the feeling of playing in the dirt and approaching my garden like an artist painting a canvas.
• I baked for fun, sharing treats with friends and family. I experimented with recipes and leaned into the process - letting go of perfection or focusing only on the outcome.
• I said “yes” to more spontaneity, like trying new activities. One of the best decisions I made was joining a Meetup.com tennis group. I rediscovered the pure fun of playing tennis again.

Your turn

What’s one small way you could invite more fun and play into your life? How can you bring out your childlike spirit and lean into the flow of the activity like kids do? Could you try a new hobby, say yes to something spontaneous, or simply dance in your kitchen?

Leave a comment below and share your ideas—I’d love to hear them!

🌱 If you’re looking for more encouragement on how to flourish after a storm, check out my book Withering to Flourishing on Amazon.
🌼 Visit livinghappilyconnected.com for more Flourishing Friday posts and tips to prioritize joy and connection.