It's summertime, and that means the kids are out of school and hard at work doing their summer jobs – in other words, they are hard at play.

Play serves a beneficial role in the development of our children's brains. Play allows children to learn and explore in creative ways. Sometimes it looks like getting messy. And sometimes it looks like asking lots of questions. Whatever that child's play looks like, it has valuable learning attributes.

This summer, why not take a lesson from your children and introduce play into your work process. Getting creative can be a good way to get unstuck when a creative block has you feeling stumped or you just don't feel inspired to get down to work.

Here are a few ideas for introducing elements of play into your work:

Get colorful –  An easy way to tap into our creativity is through art. You don’t have to be an artist to have fun with a box of crayons or a set of watercolors. Both coloring and painting have been linked to reduced stress and increased focus, which can help to create the space in our minds we need for that “a-ha” moment. My favorite adult coloring book is by Mike Dooley; it’s a great way to get a break into your day and reset your brain in the middle of a tough task. 

Get outside – Parents are always encouraging kids to “Go outside!” and there’s good reason. Being in nature is one of the best things we can do for our mental health and our productivity. Just a 15-minute “walking meditation” outside (even if it’s on pavement) can help clear your brain and let your subconscious solve problems for you. Read more about the benefits of being outside in this Best Day Ever post.

Get curious – Take a cue from kids and ask questions. My favorite phrase for this idea is “Tell me more.” You may be surprised that the answers lead you to a solution in an unexpected way. Inga Stasiulionyte, writing for Success Magazine, explains that questions form new patterns in our brains, which allows us to access the answers we already have.

Get your groove on – Dance can be a great way to shake up your day. One study found that participants doing either aerobics or hip-hop dance reported greater feelings of well-being as well as less fatigue. My current favorite dance artist is Bruno Mars. And if you’re on Spotify, you’ll find many pre-made playlists that will lift your mood while you move your body. So put on those tunes and get moving! 

Give it a try

What’s magical about these techniques is that they don’t have to take long. A five-minute dance break may be just what you need to refocus. Or consider scheduling a quarterly “creativity afternoon” for you and your team to do an art project.

Here a few more actionable ways to add play to your workday:

• Gamify a task –  Turning a mundane task into a game can be the best way to boost productivity. Come up with your own way or find an app to help. 

• Get it on paper – Sketch, highlight or doodle your way to breaking a project down into its parts, streamlining a process or seeing your schedule in a whole new way.

• Walk & work – Your inner child wants to go out and play, so why not say “yes”? Schedule your next meeting for a walk around the block instead of sitting in the conference room.

• Brainstorming with a twist – Brainstorming is inherently creative, but try kicking the creativity up a notch by introducing games to your brainstorming session. Here are three options you can try. 

Whatever you choose, know that when you sit back down to the real business of your work you will have benefited from the creativity you engaged in.

Enjoy your playtime!