Today, let’s delve into play personalities. Sadly, many adults miss out on the wonderful benefits of play because they haven't uncovered what they truly enjoy. Yet, the remedy is simple: discover your play preferences, and it might just lead you to more playtime and, consequently, much more joy and fulfillment in your (work) life!

Exploring Play Personalities:

It’s very important to acknowledge the diversity in play personalities. What's fun for me might be a total drag for you. But that's also the beauty of play: you get to define what’s fun to you.

Dr. Stuart Brown, author of the book Play, identified 8 “play personalities” based on natural human and animal behaviors.

He emphasizes that these categories aren’t scientifically proven, but are the result of years of observation. While we all are a mix of these play personalities, we usually have one or more dominant ones, and they may shift over time.

The 8 Play Personalities:

1. The Collector:

- Thrives on gathering and possessing intriguing objects or experiences.
- Finds joy in meticulously curating collections, whether alone or with like-minded enthusiasts.
- Whether it's coins, antiques, or experiences like traveling to witness solar eclipses, collectors find pleasure in accumulating evidence of their passions.

2. The Competitor:

- Thrives on the thrill of competition and the drive to win.
- Enjoys participating in competitive games or activities, whether as a player or spectator.
- Competitors aren’t playing just for the game; they are playing to win.
- If games and keeping score are your thing, this may be your primary play personality 😉 

3. The Creator/Artist:

- Finds joy in the act of creation, whether through painting, crafting, or building.
- Expresses creativity through various mediums, both publicly and privately.
- From painting and pottery to woodworking and gardening, creators find fulfillment in making something beautiful, functional, or goofy.

4. The Director:

- Excels in planning and organizing events or activities.
- Enjoys taking charge and bringing ideas to fruition, whether hosting parties or coordinating outings.
- Directors thrive on orchestrating events and gatherings, whether they're the dynamic center of social worlds or simply enjoy the power to make things happen.

5. The Explorer:

- Finds joy in discovering new places, ideas, or experiences. Although all of us start life driven to explore our world, some people never lose their enthusiasm for it. Exploration becomes their preferred path to a play state — their way of provoking the imagination.
- Thrives on exploration, whether physical, emotional, or intellectual. Whether it's traveling to distant lands or delving into new subjects, explorers seek out novelty and adventure in all aspects of life.

6. The Joker:

- Finds humor and joy in lighthearted, playful antics.
- A joker’s play always revolves around some kind of foolishness.
- Uses humor and wit to connect with others and bring laughter into everyday life.
- From clowning around in school to incorporating humor into adult interactions, a joker finds pleasure in bringing joy to others through playful antics.

7. The Kinesthete:

- Finds joy in movement and physical activity.
- Enjoys engaging in sports, dance, or other forms of physical expression.
- Whether it's through sports, dance, or simply moving to think, kinesthetes find fulfillment in physical movement and activity.

8. The Storyteller:

- Finds joy in imagination and narrative.
- Expresses creativity through storytelling, whether through writing, acting, or performance.
- From writing novels and plays to engaging in performance arts, storytellers weave imaginative worlds that captivate both themselves and others.

In addition to Brown’s theory, I believe you can divide the 8 play personalities into two broader groups:

Active Players:

These are individuals who mainly enjoy engaging in physical or mentally stimulating activities. This group includes The Competitor, The Creator/Artist, The Explorer, and The Kinesthete play personalities, as they all involve some form of active participation, whether it's exploring new things, being creative, or competing.

Social Players:

These are individuals who mainly find joy and fulfillment in social interactions and connections. This group includes The Collector, The Director, The Joker, and The Storyteller play personalities, as they all involve engaging with others in different ways, whether it's through socializing or relaxing together.

Discover Your Own Play Personality

For now, take some time to reflect, observe, and decode your own play personality by following the step-by-step guide below:

1. Reflect on Childhood Play:

Look back at how you played as a child to identify the areas of playfulness you can expand in your adult life. Maybe you built treehouses in the backyard as a child, and now you enjoy DIY garden projects just for the fun of it—embrace your inner creator/artist. Perhaps you were the kid who always took the lead when playing, and now you love organizing trips and events with friends—give yourself permission to be the director.

2. Find Your Flow:

Discover activities that allow you to enter a state of flow, where time seems to disappear. What activities make you feel excited and alive? What makes you lose track of time because you're having so much fun? Pay attention to the things you naturally gravitate towards as well. Do you lean towards getting active, like hitting the gym or hiking trails? Or maybe you're more into creative outlets, like painting or jamming out on your guitar. Take note of whether you're a solo player or if you thrive in team settings. Your preferences here can tell you a lot about your play style!

3. Embrace Your Play Personality:

Whether you're a creator, competitor, explorer, or else, give yourself permission to indulge in what brings you joy.

4. Make Room for Play:

Carve out time in your schedule for play, just as you would for work or other obligations :)

While not everyone can find a job that perfectly aligns with their preferred play style, everyone can find ways to integrate play into their adult lives.

PS. Mine were quite obvious: I'm mainly an explorer and a creator. I didn’t have to become an entrepreneur to fulfill my playful heart’s desire (though I must admit, it does feel like the best option for me). However, I could also have been perfectly happy getting a job that allowed me to keep on trying new things and be creative while traveling and creating art alongside a nine-to-five ‘grind’.

Start Playing Today!

Hopefully, you know your unique combination better, and the activities that likely make you feel most alive. My advice: don’t wait for life to get perfect—start playing 🥳

The perfect time to play will never come unless you make time for it. Would you like to get a helping hand on your journey? The Foundation is designed to help you reclaim your time, rediscover your creativity, and infuse your life with much more joy.

Through a harmonious blend of fun challenges and enjoyable mind explorations, you’ll learn how to reconnect to your playful self within one month.

From bite-sized lessons to flexible learning options, The Foundation empowers you to prioritize your playful journey and creative growth on your terms. And with access to a supportive community of like-minded individuals, you'll never have to feel alone!