How to Use Play to Be More Productive
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BONUS FREEBIE: Want even more ways to stay organized, productive and less stressed? CLICK HERE to get access to my List-Making Starter Kit. It will boost your efficiency and get you back to doing more of the things you love.
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Play and work seem at first like they are at odds. Play is what distracts you from working. Right?
Actually… it’s a little more complicated. It turns out that play can be a productivity tool!
Incorporating play into your routines is a powerful way to get more done and feel less stressed.
I’ve been intentionally adding play into my day and it’s true. The benefits are unexpected and bring me so much joy!
And science backs it up. According to research, play is essential for our physical and cognitive health.
Here’s how you can use play to be more productive:
1) Use play to rest.
I’m a huge fan of rest — that’s why my mantra is “rest is the new hustle.” Without rest, it’s so easy to get burned out.
I learned this lesson the hard way years ago, when my appendix burst and I waited too long to go to the hospital. I had to spend weeks in recovery because I didn’t listen when my body told me I needed to dial things back. Ever since then, I‘ve been shouting from the rooftops that rest is essential for working towards your goals.
But it’s less clear what “rest” actually looks like. You might not feel like laying down and taking a physical break — but you still need to rest. And that’s where play comes in.
Playing to rest looks different for everyone – it might be taking care of a little virtual bird on the Finch app, trying out a new recipe, or doing a crossword puzzle. What matters is that it’s creative, energizing, and yes — FUN!
2) Use play to get re-inspired.
Feeling stuck is one of the biggest productivity pitfalls. Whether you’re not sure of the next step on a big project or you have writer’s block, uncertainty and a lack of creativity can make your goals feel impossible to accomplish.
And inspiration isn’t just something you can buckle down and force into being. That’s why it’s so essential to get out of your own head, lighten up, and change your perspective.
I love using play to get the creative juices flowing. Play can help you feel inspired and ready to dive back in with renewed energy.
Here’s some ideas:
One of my favorite ways to play is pulling tarot cards. I love it so much that I wrote a whole blog about it. And the idea really resonated with people. I was thrilled to see comments on LinkedIn from people who are keen to try using tarot to boost their creative inspiration.
You might consider painting, dancing, or even doing a puzzle. All of these can help you see things from a new perspective, break out of your regular habits, and feel connected to your creative energy!
My friend Karen Bussen hosts free online creativity meet-ups called Le Salon. I’ve been and really enjoyed them! If this sounds like something you’d enjoy, check out Le Salon here.
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3) Use play to motivate yourself.
I’ve started rewarding myself with a few minutes of play each time I finish a task. And sometimes dangling that carrot is all you need to power through!
If you find yourself getting distracted, it can be helpful to use play as a motivator. For example, I commit to finishing a task and then I’ll play Connections in the New York Times Games app. I’ve also gotten into building my own town in the Township app.
If you feel stuck on what kinds of play activities are right for you, you can check out the Play Personalities quiz based on Dr. Stuart Brown’s research. Dr. Brown speaks regularly about the benefits of play for adults and using his personality quiz can help you discover the best kinds of play for you.
Here’s to fun!
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BONUS FREEBIE: Want even more ways to stay organized, productive and less stressed? CLICK HERE to get access to my List-Making Starter Kit. It will boost your efficiency and get you back to doing more of the things you love.
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Secret Productivity Tool: Tarot Cards
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BONUS FREEBIE: Want even more ways to stay organized, productive and less stressed? CLICK HERE to get access to my List-Making Starter Kit. It will boost your efficiency and get you back to doing more of the things you love.
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I never get writer’s block.
It’s from years as a TV journalist, when I had to produce content on demand. Sometimes in a matter of minutes, we would have to put a whole show or segment together.
It’s ingrained in me to produce something, no matter what. I’m used to writing for a purpose, with a deadline in mind or an end game. I rarely, if ever, write “just because” or for “fun.”
But… all that changed recently. And it’s all because of tarot cards.
Yep!
Let me tell you how, because it turns out that tarot cards can actually be an amazing productivity tool.
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Every Friday, I set aside a chunk of time for writing. It’s a practice I started when I had to produce my second book, Listful Living, on a short deadline. Years later, I’m still doing it with my writing buddy Bev Sanders.
So during our regular Friday writing session, I decided to give writing for fun a try… But I was actually stumped on what to write about! Without an assignment or a prompt, it can be hard to get going.
But it turned out the answer was right in front of me. And that answer was (you guessed it!) tarot cards.
I recently started taking tarot card reading classes, and it’s an absolute delight. It’s strangely practical and surprising in the best ways. People think of tarot as witchy, but that’s actually a misconception. They have a long history and many different applications.
My tarot teacher, Kenneth James, Ph.D., is a Jungian analyst in private practice in Chicago, Illinois. He received a Ph.D. in Communicative Sciences and Disorders from Northwestern University, and a Diploma in Analytical Psychology from the C.G. Jung Institute of Chicago.
His approach is all about learning about yourself and using the cards for self-development and inspiration. And it turns out they’re a great tool for getting yourself unstuck and thinking from new perspectives! (If this sounds like something you want to try, you can register for his class right here!).
Ken uses the ideas of psychotherapist Carl Jung to help guide learners to connect with the idea that knowledge you need is already within you. Tarot cards can help you connect with your “inner knowing” by giving you symbols and concepts to consider.
So I pulled a card to get started with my writing exercise to see what would come up.
Here’s what I pulled:
💫 First card: Ace of Pentacles (New financial opportunity, abundance, manifestation)
👿 Second card: The Devil (Negativity, restriction, addiction)
🪴 Third card: Death (Endings, change, transformation)
What a great prompt for a story — it has a beginning, middle and end! I love lists and this was a different kind of list for me.
I wrote a story based on these cards. We did two rounds of 25 minutes like we always do, borrowing from the productivity tool the Pomodoro Technique. It was such a fun process and I will definitely be doing this again.
And it’s not only for writers — this works across the board. Whether you’re stuck on the next step with a project or looking for inspiration for your business, reframing your ideas or questions is essential. Whether you need help with writing or you have another area you want to boost productivity in, this approach can really help you consider things from a new perspective. It’s unconventional — but so are all the best productivity tricks!
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BONUS FREEBIE: Want even more ways to stay organized, productive and less stressed? CLICK HERE to get access to my List-Making Starter Kit. It will boost your efficiency and get you back to doing more of the things you love.
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What Kind of List-Maker Are You?
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BONUS FREEBIE: Want even more ways to stay organized, productive and less stressed? CLICK HERE to get access to my List-Making Starter Kit. It will boost your efficiency and get you back to doing more of the things you love.
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Are you a Monkey, Squirrel, Tiger, or Dolphin when it comes to making lists?
I had the pleasure of talking about this with Arrianee LeBeau & Kendis Gibson on PIX11 in NYC, where I shared insights into the four types of list makers — and how understanding your style can help you be more productive and stress-free!
Monkeys love their color-coded, perfectly organized lists.
Squirrels jot down ideas on anything they can find, from receipts to napkins.
Tigers focus on today’s tasks, conquering their lists one day at a time.
Dolphins rely on apps and digital tools to streamline their lives.
Figuring out your list-making type can help you optimize your productivity by embracing your unique style!