A couple of nights ago, I did something I haven’t done it years: I went to the park. I know, I know, it’s not exactly a revolutionary achievement. But the main thing to take from it is, between studying and working, it’s actually been one of the most ‘fun’ things I’ve done recently. The problem is that I felt somewhat hesitant to actually go in the park (and I do have to say, I noticed someone actually hanging out of their window watching me on the swings), which goes to demonstrate how having a bit of fun and actually doing things we enjoyed as kids is seen to be inappropriate. For the most part, I don’t think that should be the case! Here’s why:
1) It’s a break from the mundane
Many ‘grown ups’ unfortunately have things to do (work, study, household chores and so on) that can be monotonous and distract from the amount of fun you’re able to have. A lot of people actually forget to enjoy themselves because they’re so busy being adults, so switching off and doing something that you’ve not done in a long time definitely breaks up the routine that you’re used to.
2) It can release pent-up energy
As I’m sure we all know, kids (on the whole) have bags of energy, so they tend to spend a lot of their time expelling it in various ways. Now, adults might not necessarily have quite the same level of energy, but there are times when you might need to release anger, or you might actually just have been cooped up in the house for too long. Because a lot of ‘children’s’ activities are suited to getting rid of that excess energy, they are ideal for blowing off some steam.
3) It helps you to let go of self-consciousness
It’s very true! When you become immersed in something that you enjoy doing, you completely forget how you look to other people (and that’s as an adult, too). Kids don’t seem to care too much about what people think of them, so embracing that philosophy is something we should do more. Considering that appearances seem to make up a big part of our lives, it’s great to be able to switch off from that for a bit and just enjoy the moment.
4) It brings back memories of childhood
I’m pretty sure most people have had moments of nostalgia and “Do you remember when..?” I personally always feel very comforted when I remember something from my childhood, and I felt the same sort of feeling when I was at the park. Reliving some of the things you used to love doing doesn’t make you sad, and it’s a lovely way to bring some sort of blissful innocence back into your life (if only temporarily).
There are tonnes of things you could do to embrace your inner child: make a den, jump in some puddles, play mini golf, bake cookies… even watch a kids‘ film at the cinema. The feeling you get when you do something completely different from what you would normally do is wonderfully comforting, and something that people should try more often. Just a warning, though: don’t confuse feeling a bit like a kid for actually being one, as you’re probably not as agile as you used to be! I made that mistake and hurt both my ankles jumping off the swing – d’oh!
