As work and life boundary lines continue to shift, personal time is gradually shrinking away going unnoticed without much fuss. I’ve realised more and more I’m involved in a way of life…a kind of working life. And it seems to dominate more than I care to acknowledge, with days becoming more jam packed, intense, long and wearing. Some days I could take half the day to get into gear and others I seamlessly fly through activities getting almost everything done I set out to do. Today I feel more a marathon person taking on numerous responsibilities in competing interests. A lot of my time is meeting people in different work environments each week and while many of them are serious and apply a single mindedness to their work, others have a sense of fun and lighthearted nature to them. Both are types of people are dedicated to their work and display different attitudes towards work. The people I enjoy working with most at work, are ones who seem to achieve a balance of getting things done while having fun. These tend to be more satisfied with their work and life. Somehow they have a way to turn their work into play and enjoy it. The attitude and behavior is very easy to be around and things get done in a spirit of openness filled with humor, passion and enjoyment. 

Why play at work?

On the other side is the argument why would you even bother trying to make work play? Its risky, things could go out of control, it’s uncertain, too many grey spaces, time consuming, tasks might not get done, you might make a fool of yourself, or even enjoy yourself so much to the point of feel guilty for having experienced such pleasure afterwards. Any of these chaotic or unintended consequences could result from playing. Work needs to be work and lets leave it at that. A business owner in Germany has revolted against the usual team spirit, relaxed atmosphere and colleagues engaging in conversations at work. Many German business employers have followed this lead and support the attitude. Everyone must be on time, uniforms must be worn, talking only allowed for business matters face to face and on the phone, no personal phone calls at all. I don’t know about you, it would be very stifling working in such a regime environment. It reminds me of developing countries factory labor enforced policies. Pay is docked for being a minute late, little acknowledgement of human input and low job satisfaction. This path has well and truly been trodden before with worker revolts and families and society wearing the brunt of such repressed behaviors. Cases of employee anger, resentment and mistreatment in the US (plus many other countries) in the past few years have shown these types of conditions ultimately lead down the path of self destructive behavior.   

Anthropologist Garry Chick, Ph.D., of Penn State University comments, “ In the past 30 years, there has been a cultural shift reemphasizing work and getting ahead. We still play, but much of it seems to lack a playful quality. Playfulness has been replaced by aggressiveness and the feeling that more needs to be crammed into less time."

Play, argues Brian Sutton-Smith, Ph.D. is more than an attitude and more than an action. While it encompasses development, it's not about that--it's about pure unalloyed enjoyment. As the Professor emeritus of psychology at University of Pennsylvania, Sutton-Smith is still the ranking dean of play studies. He considers play an alternative cultural form, like art and music. People who are lighthearted, have fun, and in good spirits are more likely to be successful. Their mental and physical attitude produces increased oxygen, endorphins, and blood flow to the brain, which helps them to think more clearly and creatively. They are more relaxed and spontaneous, more accepting of others, and more likely to share their sense of humor. People like to be with others who are having fun. If you took the same attitude and approach the cultural arts have towards work where work is play…maybe your life would be a lot better spent and you would feel a lot more satisfied. Doing something meanigful and making a contribution to create a better community.  

One of the most enjoyable work moments I experienced spontaneous play came in a meeting with an insurance company manager. He and I collaborated on a project together and came across government regulations hindering the project. We sat together attempting to navigate through regulation after regulation and were frustrated and confused the more time we spent on it. At one point he took a deep sigh and put his elbows on the desk and leaned his face down into his palms and taking a long breath and paused in silence. I sat quietly looking at him and thought what next? I saw a scribble on his pad next to the phone and it looked like someone riding a bike. As he looked up, I said your scribble looks like someone riding a bike. He briefly laughed and immediately grabbed his pen and drew a picture of a large circle and a small circle inside it. What does this look like he blurted? Like a hat or a donut, I replied. I had a pen in my hand and drew a picture beside his. What’s this? He replied and drew another picture and a symbol. We played for five or so minutes picture games in his office. Laughing and jokingly it somehow folded back into the projects dilemma. We came back to it and took a full 30 seconds or less to solve it. I walked straight out feeling jubilant with a sense of achievement and enriched by the whole experience. It was fun, enjoyable and more importantly changed the way I worked with him in the future.

This squeezed moment of play achieved more than an hour and quarter of work. It seemed clear and sensible to me…this is how work ought to be done most of the time. Have fun, play, and enjoy myself whilst working. Well it didn’t take long for me to realize not all people are willing to let go for a few moments and enjoy a mental break. 

For most of the time, work is being pushed by meeting deadlines, targets, schedules, bottom-lines, and is results focused on the all encompassing ruling deity…“show me the money”. Yes money in most cases tends to bump play to the sidelines. Time is money so don’t waste it is the century bantered catch phrase. More done, more productivity, more dollars tick over. Does it really work like that? It probably does in the overall equation of work time and if that is your sole intention. This attitude comes with a toll, usually self-dissatisfaction, abuse and divorce of relationships. Many workplaces are now bucking the trend and becoming more friendly workplaces.  

Virgin is a great example of a company philosophy that plays. Imbued with a spirit of creativity, fun, innovation and adventure. It seeks to challenge the workplace rules. I know this doesn’t work for all companies and this does not mean you should take it off our values list in your work. Price Waterhouse Coopers firm has a balance between work and play. They state - ” When you love what you do, it shows. We choose lawyers who are passionate about what they do. We also want to work with people who are fun, who have fun and who understand how to balance work and play”. 
I wonder how many people get paid more for doing more? Unless you’re in the top 10 per cent of earners in the country, then the answer is probably not much more at all. This leaves 90 per cent who for the larger part derive their pleasure from being acknowledged, appreciated and valued for their contribution by others; and being part of something bigger; or simply the need for an income to support the self or family is motivation enough for them. 

Why play is important today?

As work demands and pressures increase, our time is being flittered away thinking about work problems. Many times I am with friends and we end up taking about our work problems. Work is slicing away into our personal time and we are behaving more and more as working people with our family and close friends. For some this is perfectly acceptable as you might be the upwardly mobile type who is career focused. Read the following short email extract I received from a work colleague in their own words:

” I take business extremely seriously and I find it hard to integrate the seriousness of my business life with the joys of my personal life. It is no joke when I am dealing with both people’s money and also giving advice, and making decisions affecting the livelihoods of others who trust me. You see, business is not a game and making money is certainly not a game”.

I agree having people’s livelihood in your hands is a responsibility. What I question is the emailer taking their role too seriously and overcompensates. I think this happens to you and I also in our daily life. I stress myself out often by being too serious about the work I do. Too worried about when the next project will turn up and forget the pleasure in the existing work. The delayed gratification is the illusion happiness will come when I have achieved my goal or completed the project. It will be much better when I have done the work and achieve my target. This might be true for some and for me the quality of the journey is as important, if not more. I want to work in ways that include creativity, play and meaningfulness in achieving outcomes everyday. Not in anyway which dampers and decreases my enthusiasm, hinder my abilities, or not value what I have to offer. In tense situations moments of play relieve pressure, and open the door of relief, even if it is for a brief period. Play adds to my energy levels and I learn faster and absorb more when I play.

Playing makes you feel good, breaks down the barriers between people, relieves stress and boredom, builds trustworthy relationships, and increases enthusiasm and optimism. A fun and positive attitude makes doing work more enjoyable and motivating, and this in turn results in greater satisfaction.
Turning work into play is an attitude. It’s important to create some play and be willing to have some play during our work time. Children are an obvious starting of point with their innate play characteristics being the only light registering on their radar screen. Who are curiously and utterly absorbed in the present moment and everything is play to them. So somewhere along the line a distinction has been made that work and play don’t go together. The work responsibilities are serious and this has seeped in as personal responsibilities.  

Why is work taking so much of time? Why does it need to dominate so much of our awareness as something representing a chore? You and I need to change our attitude towards work. We need to identify with it in a new and fresh way to experience work…as play. 
What does Play mean?

Let me define play as it’s often referred to as an activity in verb form depicting action. Play is a quality to be experienced. Sociologist David Reisman came to the conclusion that play is a quality (opposed to an activity) we come to experience and only vaguely describe. Play is an interaction or engagement with levity, a carefree nature, or in an experiential state of being light or buoyant. Play is a freeing, opening, non-judgemental, appreciative, joyous and learning experience. The act of playing in behavioral science studies into different species over the past few decades show it as an essential behavior of species' environmental and social adaptation processes. Such as learning basic hunting skills (for tigers), or learning one's place in the herd (for horses). When play is structured and goal orientated it is often in the form of a game.

The Greeks have two philosophies about work based on time and both are in steeped in their mythology as Gods presiding over the human world. One is “Chronos” and the other is the “Kairos”. Chronos refers to chronological or sequential time. Chronos time is measured by movements of the clock and calendar. It is orderly and predictable. Kairos on the other hand is nebulous, unpredicable, in between time, moments of undetermined period of time in which “something special happens”. Chronos is physical time and karios is metaphysical time.

I know when I’m in karios time as I’m absorbed in what I’m doing. Time dissolves into the moment and I’m completely at-one with what I’m doing. It’s a state of “flow”, where I’m concentrated or moving effortlessly from one task to another. In this state of flow, different elements play in complete natural affinity with each other. The dots are joined together and a clear picture emerges. Allowing decisions about the next step to flow automatically. In this consciousness I’m an observer, detached and free from limiting judgments to experience being open, broad, imaginative, trusting, willing to risk and to be present.

In this open space is the play of perceptions interacting creatively, and you see with fresh eyes, numerous solutions, and combinations, rather than judging, or being defensive, constricting and overlapping preconceived ideas. Being free and open is an elation and joy. Anytime I play, or work well together with people I experience a deep sense of interconnectedness and meaningfulness. By playing bonds are formed, resulting in healthy, intimate, honest, and trusting relationships. 

According to professor Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, PhD, (pronounced 'cheeks sent me high') of University of Chicago, who for 30 years has studied the lives of thousands of people in search of what makes people’s lives meaningful and satisfying, says “ the people who are most likely to experience ‘flow’; a state of deep focus, is when people are engaged in challenging tasks that demand intense concentration and commitment. Flow occurs when a person’s skill level is perfectly balanced to the challenge level of a task that has clear goals and provides immediate feedback.

Not long ago I had a phone line repair with three technicians come and view the faulty line. Two said was it is too difficult and you need to call someone who knows how to do the job. Well it turned out two were not skilled enough to do it. The third technician inspected it and said the main line into the building is faulty and needs to be replaced. No problems I’ll do it for you and get you up and running in an hour or so. As he came in and out he would stop and have a quick chat. (his play) I heard him hum most of the time, maybe humming a song to himself while working.  As we talked he said doing this work I learn so much for the older guys here. There are funny because they are now in management positions and we can’t pull the wool over their eyes because they use to do what I do. They’re the wise men and keepers of knowledge of the line history and map distribution. Its not a job mate, it science and wisdom working together. We have to take into consideration the degree of difficulty, how old the lines are and how to untangle the maze in the older line installations. He then just hummed back into the work like a kid play with toys. I looked at him working with a smile on his face and eyes shining and beaming with pride. It’s an adventure everyday – I don’t know what I’ll get on each job. It’s a school science project everyday mate. He was a joy to be around and I realised I took my work too seriously.

A large corporate financial company I used to work with would every day at five to five gather at the reception area and sing a song before they went home. “What song do you we sing today, someone would shout out? Hip Hop? Jazz? Rock? Folk?” Then, playing the accordion folders and staplers as finger cymbals, pens as drumsticks tapping together launch into the most giggly rendition of “We are the Champions ” by Queen, and hysterical laughter as colleagues applauded each other for the effort.  

Three Levels of Play  

Why are some people so thrilled, passionate and ready to play? Is it to do with conditioning in childhood or social culture? Whatever the source affirming play is okay with others even when doing important tasks. Viola Spolin (1986), the originator of Improvisation Theatre Games says there are three levels of playing 1) Participation, (fun and games) where one enters to partake; 2) Problem Solving (development of physical and mental perceiving tools); and 3) Catalytic Action (wherein opportunities arise that allow an individual to tap into the intuitive, to become spontaneous, so breakthroughs and creative output occurs).

Kids who are allowed to play freely learn how to be curious, solve problems and know when to ask for help when the challenge is beyond them. Play develops their physiological, neurological and psychological capabilities. The kind of play adults encounter is usually filled with humor and has less learning involved in it. If you learn to play with different ideas, thoughts and feelings, then you can try-them-on to see if they fit or not before you ‘buy’ them. Children do this all the time as they try-on-life and pick what works for them.

What does play help us to do?

Sociologist and behavioural scientists research show the following characteristics of people who spend time playing.
• Builds self confidence
• Become self directed learners, set and master tasks for themselves
• Develop mental and physical strength and agility
• Question, explore and test out ideas
• Classify and organize materials
• Extend knowledge as they relate new experiences to previous experiences
• Learn how to manage relationships to get along with others (share, cooperate, lead)
• Express feelings and ideas with both words and actions
• Try on roles and gain new understanding of how other peoples world works
• Combine and practice skills they are struggling to master
• Use symbolic representation in thinking and language.

The most immediate benefits of play are…
• Play induces a state of openness, readiness, alertness and anticipation.
• Play helps to solve problems faster rather than be besieged by them. Problems shrink in size quickly and solutions are achieved quicker. 
• Play increases the appetite for new challenges and experience. You begin to search for fresh challenges that help you learn new skills and discover new talents.
• Play helps you to be innovative, creative and imaginative. You see new opportunities where you might not have see a way out before.
• Play defuses and decreases stress and tension to help you achieve greater ”workflow”.  Positive neuro-chemicals flood the brain and body to maintain resilience and endurance longer and the mind clearer and sharper.

Play can be reality defying, insanely optimistic and boundary breaking. How many times have you seen or heard an interview where a bit of fun lightened and eased the tension in moments.

5 Tips To Make Your Work Play

1. Attitude 
It’s not what you do that matters, it’s the way you do it that matters! If your attitude is one of dislike or begrudging the work you do, you can expect this to multiply each day causing you to resent the work you do. If you display an attitude of passion towards your work, it tends to be more inspiring, engaging and fun. Your attitude is mirrored in your body. Think about the days you are in a good frame of mind, and you feel you can achieve anything as your body mirrors this attitude by feeling energetic and healthy. When you’re tired your body reflects this also. Ask yourself what is my attitude towards work? What attitude do I need to make work play? If this is not easy to do ask yourself… if I could make work play what would it be? Or think of people who play and work well at work. What attitude do they have towards work? E.g. It’s a game, and fun. Work is a fun park and different tasks are rides. (if you’re into that sort of thing). You can try this exercise: create your attitude as a color each day towards work each day. If want to be more passionate or energized imagine the color red, or calm for blue around you. Or an animal displaying your attitude, e.g. lion for confidence or dolphin for flow or play. You decide on the attitude and then pick a color, animal or object to match. Have fun with it and play.      

2. Explore
Which aspects of your work allow for play? Find gaps of daily play and capitalize on them. I do this on the phone or face to face often and if there is an opening to lighten things up. One moment can spark a fire of play. This happened to me recently and don’t know if it translates well into print. I asked for the address to send a letter to a company the person said…’its three words’. (its clear as daylight now that I know it) Well to me it sounded as ‘tree worlds’, and I said wow do have a middle earth down there in tolkin land. We laughed and made it a playful experience. So choose aspects of work that you can bring play into them. Meetings today are very measured and kept tight, with little room for play. Introduce a playful element and watch the meeting change. A set of toys in the meeting room always makes things very interesting. A sponge or soft rubber ball seems to go well as it can be tossed around the room keeping people alert. Explore your options and try to bring some play into them. Talk to others and ask them how they think play can be part of work. Google have skateboards, roller-blades, scooters and bikes indoors for employees to play. Google culture is such that play is considered one of the most important values of the company. This next one is an unusual one yet works for them. Workers at Matsushita Electric Company, in Japan, beat dummies of their managers with bamboo sticks to let off steam. Its a group activity and everyone enjoys it and it’s a fun laugh with the managers present enjoying the game. The company has enjoyed 30 per cent growth for 25 consecutive years. Whatever works for you or your workplace and does no physical or psychological harm is good.

3. Enjoy and Embrace Interruptions 
Who wants them...most of us don’t. Interruptions are the annoying and intrusive and the thing you and I most fight against. To have more control over what we do and its outcome. With interruptions out of the way especially during work time, I would achieve much more. Maybe? So why does life have a chaotic pattern of play? In the Seven Life Lessons of Chaos, Professor John Briggs and Physicist F. David Peat reveal that random interruptions break mechanical time to allow ourselves to re-organise internal systems to preserve equilibrium. This interruption or disruption phenomena is really helping us rather than hindering us. So the next time your interrupted, take it as a mental or physical break and life is doing you and I a favor everytime it happens. Rather than getting upset, frustrated or angry about not getting your work done…embrace the interruption as break, an opportunity to return the internal system to equilibrium. Interruptions are creative breaks beneficial for our mind and body.

4. Be Creative
Creativity is where play begins and work cease to be work. The adage if you do the same thing you get the same result is true in most part. How can you be more creative in your work? Creative behavior is based on doing things differently, keeping fresh, being more present, alert and open to opportunities in interactions. You and I practice something everyday whether we aware or not. Why not make a conscious decision to do things creatively. For example, you may have the habit of rushing around to get things done and this your way of doing things. Try doing them at a s-l-o-w-e-r pace, or if you speak fast…s-l-o-w your speech down, and vice versa.  When you have experienced being present you are usually not thinking about the task and absorbed in the moment. Try this fun activity. Draw a picture which clearly represents your job? Is this a positive picture or a negative picture? If it’s negative what is the positive in it or you can decide to draw a brighter picture of your job. This activity helps you be aware of your behavior and attitude towards your job.

5. Play Philosophy
Do you have a play philosophy? If not, reflect on how you can do this. Can you be more creative? Can you have more fun at work? Can you be less self judging and allow yourself to take risks? Examples of play philosophy:
- Lead by example (play)
- Model people who play at work
- Every task is creative and fun
- Play is one of the strands in my work DNA
- Play is productive and cost effective
- Play is the path of least resistance
- Play is effortless work
- Play is the most effective and efficient way to work
- Play is getting things done in the most fun way

Think of your own play philosophy to underpin and guide your work. Remember to play with it. 
Okay go and play at http://www.jacksonpollock.org
Move your mouse around the screen, click and repeat. Enjoy!

-Victor Sultas