Playing to grow
Most often people want me to just tell them the “best” nutrition, exercise, and sleep practices. Google any of those three and you’ll discover numerous “experts” directing you towards their rules of each practice. Three factors that routinely guide me towards any best physical health practice ideas for clients are context, occupation, and sense.
Physical health goals are fundamentally self-care practices. They benefit from, and I’m echoing a past colleague’s beloved phrase, the willingness to play to grow. It’s less about the “best” and more about your best. Play to grow is a concept for evolving your unique lens on the dimensions of the world, your multidimensional roles, and your sensitives to the designed dimensions of objects and systems.
When there’s tinkering, curiosity, and meaning-making driving action there’s self-efficacy and a sense of agency. Forms of play and maker-centered practices develop an understanding of your unique character. Bring along side growth-minded people or communities and you’ll double-down on strengthening your capabilities.
Following are a few questions and links to nudge ideas along the way of playing to grow….
Movement
What would adult recess include for you?
Does the meaning of “recess” change your “why” to routinely move or move more often daily? If yes, how so? If not, why?
Where and when do you play?
Nutrition
What are the parts to you eating well consistently? Are there systems to play differently with? Or objects to learn better?
Who would you pick to tinker with your nutrition or cooking style? Why?
How can you eat meals curiously?
Sleep
How do you test your sleep routines (or narrative about your sleep)?
What sheet textures or blanket weight can you tinker with?
Is sleep quality meaningful to you? If yes, how so? If not, why?
