Never Stop Having Fun: Why Play & Creativity Are Good For Your Health

When was the last time you did something just for fun? No agenda. No productivity attached. Just pure, unfiltered joy? Play and creativity are good for your health, and I'll tell you why!

As adults, we often trade in play for responsibility, believing that silliness is for kids and creativity is a luxury. But the truth is, fun isn’t frivolous; it’s medicine. Laughter, imagination, movement, and curiosity are more than feel-good moments; they’re essential to your well-being. 

In this post, we’re diving into why embracing play and creative expression isn’t just good for the soul, it’s backed by science as a powerful tool for reducing stress, boosting mood, enhancing brain function, and reconnecting with your most authentic self.

"You don’t need to wait until things are a certain way to be having fun." Unknown

Play helps relieve stress by triggering the release of the body’s natural feel-good chemicals, endorphins. It also improves brain function. Think about it, playing Scrabble, chess, or another game that makes you think, challenges the brain, which in the long run can help prevent memory problems and improve the function of the brain. And on top of that, playing with friends helps reduce and possibly even eliminate stress and depressive symptoms.

Playing stimulates the mind by boosting creativity. As a kid, I remember learning the best when I was having fun. I still learn and retain information best when positive emotions are attached to the experience. It also improves interpersonal relationships because laughing and having a good time with friends and other loved ones fosters empathy, compassion, trust, and intimacy.

Over time, making space for play and fun helps you feel more vibrant and alive. It boosts your energy, supports your immune system, and helps you stay resilient, so you can show up as your healthiest, most energized self.

So how can you invite more fun into your life, you might ask? Start by remembering what lit you up as a kid. What made you feel most alive, curious, or carefree? What were you doing when time seemed to disappear? Those moments hold clues; your younger self may already know the kind of play your adult self still craves.

If you need a little inspiration, here are some ideas to jump off of:

• Crack some jokes with a friend

• Toss a frisbee at the beach

• Dress up for Halloween (with your friends, kids, or even furbabies)

• Build a snowman in the winter

• Play fetch with your dog

• Act silly during a game of charades

• Take a carefree bike ride with your partner—no destination, just joy!

• Have a mini-adventure by going somewhere you haven’t been before or doing something new

• Say yes to something that sounds interesting, different, and fun, even if it scares you or seems silly

"Fun is not a luxury, it’s a necessity." Unknown

You don’t need a reason to play beyond the fun of it. When you give yourself permission to be playful and present, like you did as a kid, you unlock powerful benefits for your mind, body, and soul.

So go ahead, color outside the lines, dance in your kitchen, build a fort, or try something weird. Your nervous system will thank you!

Robinson, L., Smith, M., Segal, J., & Shubin, J. (2025). The benefits of play for adults. HelpGuide.org. Retrieved July 27, 2025, from HelpGuide.org website.