On a sunny afternoon, a group of kids runs across a playground, shoes thudding against the worn wooden bridge that connects the fort to the slide. A boy in faded denim overalls pauses just long enough to steady the sway beneath his feet before racing across, laughing, calling out to the others. They are present in the moment, immersed in play.
For kids, play comes naturally, but playing isn’t just about passing time or having fun; it serves a deeper purpose.
“Many adults forget what it feels like to be curious and feel joy, and play can help balance burnout from school and work,” said Sierra College counselor, Allie Aguilar, who helps students firsthand. “Play reduces stress, increases positive emotions, and helps shift the mind away from the constant day-to-day responsibilities.”
Play in Community
At the University of Beer on a weeknight, tables fill with makeshift trivia teams, leaning over answer sheets, debating timed questions, and laughing at wrong guesses. Teammates huddle together and toss out ideas with just enough confidence to be convincing.
Players in a side challenge race to win what Pickled Brains team captain, Scott Toomes described as “the worst looking electric blue beverage” he had ever seen. He said, “We were all laughing at the way our teammate screwed up his face when he drank it.”
By the time the second round starts, the room is louder. Teams lock in, answers are whispered and second-guessed, and someone at the next table is already celebrating an answer to a question no one else seems to know. It’s fast paced, unpredictable, and shared.
“What made it fun for me was being there with my family. It’s rare to get everyone together with our schedules, and trivia night gives us a reason to do that,” Toomes said.
“It’s really about making time to be together.”
Trivia night isn’t about getting the answer right. It’s the debate, the laughter, and the sense of belonging that forms around the table, even if it only lasts for a few hours.
“When adults engage in play, they can experience emotional relief and a sense of renewal,” Aguilar said. “When they play with others, it’s a great way for them to build healthy relationships.”
Play in Creativity
For some adults, play becomes less about competition and more about the process. It takes shape in a quieter, more personal way through creative outlets.
Local crafter, Jody Masker works in a space filled with yarn, beads, and various works in progress. Color and texture spill across her workspace.
“I get excited when starting new projects or learning new skills,” Masker said. A half-finished piece rests in her lap, as she continues to work. Yarn loops around her fingers as a new pattern takes shape.
“It’s very meditative for me. I feel calm and focused when I’m crocheting or beading,” said Masker.
The pace is different. It is not about winning or performance. It’s about intentionally making space for moments like these. Aguilar explained:
“Play helps shift the mind; it brings relaxation and an increase in positive energy.”
For Masker, that shift is intentional.
“Creating with yarn or beads gives me a more tangible sense of productivity,” she said. “I can hold what I make, whereas my professional work is more invisible.”
Play in Motion
Outdoors on a spring morning, the sound of a wiffle ball bouncing from paddle to paddle reverberates across newly renovated pickleball courts. On one court, a group of beginners laughs at a missed shot, while nearby an advanced group calls out the score between points. A match ends, and players are already making plans for the next one.
On the court, that curiosity shows up in motion. It can be chasing a ball, resetting a point, or staying in a rally just a little longer. It’s fast and immersive, a kind of play that brings adults back into the moment. Jay Zellmer, a Grass Valley pickleball player and community organizer said:
“What I’m after on a good day is something called flow… just being out there smiling and trusting my instincts.”
That sense of flow, being fully absorbed in the moment, is part of what draws so many adults to movement-based play. Aguilar described a similar feeling. “Play helps adults forget about the stressors in their life at that moment.”
For Zellmer, play is both movement and connection. What started as learning a new sport quickly became something more: a gateway to community and personal transformation. The appeal of pickleball went beyond competition. He describes the experience as something deeper than just a good game.
“In real life, I’m a shy introvert,” Zellmer said. “But pickleball has helped me become a friendly person. I’ve met great friends who will be great friends for the rest of my life.”
Play as an Investment
Prioritizing productivity over play can become routine. But as these moments show, it’s not a distraction; it’s what keeps us grounded, present, and connected to each other.
Like the kids on the playground, running across a swaying bridge without hesitation, adults are still capable of that same immersion if they make space for it.
“The weight of everyday responsibilities hinders the ability to find time to play,” Aguilar said. “It might seem more important to write another email than go play when a balance of play and work is much better for the mind, body, and productivity.”
Reported and Written by Rachel Carnahan
