Axios: The key to problem-solving

1 big thing: The key to problem-solving
Illustration of a brain with arms and legs swinging happily on a swing set
Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios
 
Tell a workaholic: Play isn’t just good for your health — it could make you more productive at work, Axios’ Carly Mallenbaum writes.

Why it matters: Taking play breaks can reduce stress, strengthen teamwork, and boost creativity and problem-solving.

Being in a high-pressure, serious state can put your brain into a fear mode that shuts down cognitive functioning, says Piera Gelardi, Refinery29 co-founder and author of the forthcoming book “The Playful Way” (out in April).

“Whereas when we’re in a playful state, we’re in a more exploratory, open-minded, experimental place, and that’s usually where solutions come from,” she says.🧩 “Play deprivation” could affect your mental health, according to Stuart Brown, clinical researcher and founder of the National Institute for Play.
Adding some play to your workday can look like:✏️ Stepping away to doodle for a few minutes.🎶 Listening to your favorite song — without scrolling on your phone.🌳 

Going for a walk to seek awe in the outdoors.

To find more opportunities to play, identify the grown-up version of the thing you loved as a kid, Gelardi says.

If you spent hours dressing up dolls, explore your personal style now.

If playing house made you lose track of time, people-watch and imagine their backstories.
If you thrived on sports teams, build more movement into your day.💭 
Carly’s thought bubble: My two favorite play activities are…Going to movement class or another kind of sober dance party.Running around the house with my curious, energetic toddler.Share this story … Different “play modes”
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About michelleclarke2015

Life event that changes all: Horse riding accident in Zimbabwe in 1993, a fractured skull et al including bipolar anxiety, chronic fatigue …. co-morbidities (Nietzche 'He who has the reason why can deal with any how' details my health history from 1993 to date). 17th 2017 August operation for breast cancer (no indications just an appointment came from BreastCheck through the Post). Trinity College Dublin Business Economics and Social Studies (but no degree) 1997-2003; UCD 1997/1998 night classes) essays, projects, writings. Trinity Horizon Programme 1997/98 (Centre for Women Studies Trinity College Dublin/St. Patrick's Foundation (Professor McKeon) EU Horizon funded: research study of 15 women (I was one of this group and it became the cornerstone of my journey to now 2017) over 9 mth period diagnosed with depression and their reintegration into society, with special emphasis on work, arts, further education; Notes from time at Trinity Horizon Project 1997/98; Articles written for Irishhealth.com 2003/2004; St Patricks Foundation monthly lecture notes for a specific period in time; Selection of Poetry including poems written by people I know; Quotations 1998-2017; other writings mainly with theme of social justice under the heading Citizen Journalism Ireland. Letters written to friends about life in Zimbabwe; Family history including Michael Comyn KC, my grandfather, my grandmother's family, the O'Donnellan ffrench Blake-Forsters; Moral wrong: An acrimonious divorce but the real injustice was the Catholic Church granting an annulment – you can read it and make your own judgment, I have mine. Topics I have written about include annual Brain Awareness week, Mashonaland Irish Associataion in Zimbabwe, Suicide (a life sentence to those left behind); Nostalgia: Tara Hill, Co. Meath.
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