Why serious people need play time

Three reasons why your brain needs what society says to outgrow

Oct 01, 2025

Hi friends!

As we grow older, into adulthood, much of the ideas that gets thrown around is— “it’s time to grow up” or “it’s time to act our age.” At least, it’s something I personally experience a lot. haha.

While there is a fine balance between facing responsibilities and adulting, the truth is: I’ve always been more fascinated by the adults who maintain their childlike sense of self.

Society and common culture may portray these types as the ones to never mirror, but I see these individuals as the savants amongst us. Going against the herd, because while everyone is busy adulting, science reveals the real story of why play (yes also in adulthood), is critical for our thriving!

To return to our childlike sense of wonder, curiosity, and lighthearted joy is (apparently) the state to nurture.

Before insecurity settled in, before self-doubt develops, the child in all of us knew how to be for the sake of being. Children don’t need to be reminded to play. It’s instinctual.

Before the world conditioned and corrupted us, childhood states expressed you and I at our most authentic selves.

Children are built for fun—their brains, for the most part, are in a state of constant play, except maybe when they’re hangry or sleepy, because it gives space for curiosity and wonder.

In other words, your default programming was always to look at the world as half glass full versus half glass empty. It used to always be about experiencing everything with fresh eyes. So the question is how can we return to this child-like states to preserve the pinnacle state for creativity?

Play is a state of being.

It’s not specific to an activity or occasion, it’s a type of flow state. What classifies play as play, is as unique as our music tastes. Like your favourite ice cream flavor, what counts as play for you is entirely unique to who you are.

Play allows you to become so absorbed in the moment—you might forget bathroom breaks if it weren’t for your bladder’s reflexes. Play is the thing that gets you so ‘in the zone’ and present, that everything—like stress and to-do lists disappear into the background.

That’s because play is the thing you choose to do, that you thoroughly enjoy, for it’s own sake.

While it’s easier for children to arrive at a state of play in it’s purest forms. For adults, the state of play can arrive by way of other motivations, but doing something for its own sake is still the mode to strive for most.

When play is uncorrupted with other motivations, neither interrupted by alternate incentives—the same kind of play we used to engage as children—is how to bring benefits to adult brains as well.

Three myths about play:

(that I’ve had to debunk for myself too).

Play is only for children, as play is a silly and an immature need.
Play is not for serious or ambitious people.
Play is a waste of time.

Last week, in a special edition of A NEW WITH HUE, we explored why science says play is good for children and us adults too: “meet the rat tickler, why play isn’t child’s play, and meet the star that’s LEVITATING the multi-hyphenate game | ANEWWITHHUE | 067.”

This week, we dive deeper into play and the brain.

Play is more than a mood enhancer.

Play, as an evolutionary trait, for growth and progress. Play is one of our most important states of being. Why?

#1 - For promoting neuroplasticity.

ICYMI, contrary to dated understanding, neuroplasticity is the brain’s ability to rewire and adapt throughout your lifespan. Current neuroscience standards validates the brain’s ability for lifelong adaptations.

At play, neuroplasticity gets a booster. Like NOS in the cars of Fast & Furious, finding yourself in a state of play is what will promote the strengthening and building of neural connections.

#2 - For promoting neurogenesis.

While neuroplasticity is your brain’s ability to rewire itself by forming new connections between existing neurons, neurogenesis is the actual creation of brand new neurons, where new brain cells are created.

Scientists now know that neurogenesis can happen throughout life, in a few specific brain regions, like the hippocampus (which is the area of the brain that’s most linked with memory and learning).

At play, neurogenesis is firing on all cylinders to increase your potential for improved memory and learning. While most of the research has been completed on adult mammals, the same benefit of play in adult brains is implied: play induces positive structural changes in adult brains by increasing neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus (DC) of the hippocampus.

In one study, rats raised in enriched, playful environments filled with toys and social opportunities developed thicker cerebral cortices compared to rats raised in isolated, boring conditions. Play is neurons deep.

#3 - For promoting dendrite complexity.

Dendritic complexity matters because it lies at the heart of how our brains work. It shapes how neurons receive, process, and share information, ultimately determining our ability for learning, thinking, and maintaining resilience against neurodegenerative disease.

More complex neurons with more intricate dendritic branches can build more connections with other neurons, which helps to build richer communication networks that help with more sophisticated mental processes, beyond 1+1=2.

What distinguishes human brains most is our exceptionally complex dendritic architecture. These dense and elaborate neural networks may be the thing that differentiates us from our ape ancestors. It’s what’s allow us to engage in higher-levels of thought and creativity—otherwise perhaps, we might have continued on to eat tics off each other, swing on branches, and happily enjoy bananas while perched on a tree.

Personally, I’m glad we’ve evolved beyond mere surviving in our hunting and gathering ways. Like the brilliant minds who created the cloud sofa (thank you and you’re welcome), aren’t you also in favor for human innovation?

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