Always look on the playful side of life
Taking a more playful approach to life to better cope with difficult situations might seem like common sense. However, it doesn’t mean you have to play to be playful. It’s about spending time with people who make you laugh, doing things that bring joy and being open to new experiences, among other things.
When life gives you lemons
Research led by the United States’ Oregon State University (OSU) revealed that playfulness or ‘lemonading’ helped to build resilience and sustain well-being during challenging times, such as a global pandemic. Some people are better at making lemonade from life’s ‘lemons’. During the lockdowns, they found creative ways to adapt, such as transforming living rooms into dance floors. Not a particularly playful person? No worries, it’s a characteristic that you can develop. The findings were published in the journal ‘Frontiers in Psychology’. “Our study revealed that playfulness and resilience are intimately connected through what we call ‘lemonading’ — the ability to imagine and generate positive experiences even in difficult circumstances,” explained corresponding author and OSU assistant professor Xiangyou Shen in a news release. The researchers analysed how over 500 American adults experienced the COVID-19 pandemic. The online survey included questions about their perception of infection risk and future outlook.
Weathering life’s storms better
“While more and less playful individuals reported feeling equally vulnerable and isolated during the pandemic, highly playful people actively altered challenging situations, found creative substitutes for what was lost, viewed obstacles as opportunities for growth, and maintained a sense of control over their responses,” Shen stated. Even though the playful volunteers were more optimistic about the future, they were as realistic about their existing circumstances as those with lower levels of playfulness. “While rose-tinted glasses would color everything positively, potentially distorting reality, the ‘color spotlight’ effect we observed is more selective,” explained Shen. “Playful individuals didn't minimize Covid-19 risks or overestimate the effectiveness of protective measures. They directed their ‘spotlight’ toward possibilities for positive change and growth, illuminating potential paths forward even in dark times.” Shen believes playfulness should get more attention as a coping mechanism. “Playfulness is a vital but underappreciated resource for maintaining wellbeing, particularly during challenging times. Understanding how playful individuals navigate adversity can inform strategies to help people cope with stress and uncertainty. This is particularly relevant as we face increasing global challenges that require both realistic assessment and creative adaptation.” However, playfulness could impact people in different ways, depending on the situation. “Though we discovered important differences between more and less playful individuals, there are likely other areas where playfulness influences how people perceive and respond to their environment and life events,” she added. “Future research should examine these potential differences across life domains to build a more complete picture of the playful reframing effect.” It’s playtime, no matter the circumstances. “Even during hectic times, dedicating five to 10 minutes daily for a small dose of play – whether solo or shared – can make a meaningful difference,” Shen commented in an OSU news item.
Keywords
playful, play, playfulness, lemonading, pandemic, COVID-19, resilience