How to keep your inner child alive
A 6am treadmill run, an 8 hour job, that unavoidable work meeting, packing dabbas or taking care of the kids. Does that sound like you? On top of that you’re juggling the roles of the perfect spouse, the ideal child or being the Parent your own children can look up to. So, amidst your responsibilities and routine, when was the last time you really had time for yourself?
The answer to that question is most often an excuse. Work commitments, social commitments or just life in general always seems to get in the way. There is something “more important” to think of or dedicate your limited amount of time to. Then, how can playing a game outside, or reading for fun on a Wednesday afternoon, or simply dancing to your favourite song even think of making it to the list? These have become things that cannot even be reserved for day dreams, because who has the time to dream in the day?
Although it may seem bizarre to do enjoyable and seemingly unproductive things like a child in the middle of an ordinary day, it’s really the lifestyle and routine of urban adults that’s actually the most bizarre part of it all. How have we all collectively decided that becoming an adult means to be a part of the rat race? How have we agreed that growing up means to stop doing what we love, and start doing only what is required? How have we come to a point where to mature means to stop having fun?
So, I am obviously not writing this to ask you to just throw away your job and responsibilities and run around like a child all day! In fact, let me show you how keeping your inner child alive actually contributes to enhancing your work, routine and duties of everyday.
Studies suggest that a playful approach to work design (PWD) can induce "flow experiences." Flow is a state of complete absorption and enjoyment in a task, leading to increased creativity. A study by Scharp et al. (2019) used a diary method to track employees who playfully designed their work. They found these employees reported higher levels of focus, creativity, and work engagement.
Remember when you were a little boy or girl?
When someone asked you what you wanted to become, you uninhibitedly said “Doctor, lawyer or teacher.” With equal seriousness you would also sometimes say “A dragon, a fairy or Spiderman.” You dreamed freely. Nothing was impossible.
When you showered the floor transformed into an ocean, your soaps and shampoos were ships chasing each other at sea. When you looked out of the window the clouds could be people, heroes or bouncy castles. You imagined freely. Anything could be real.
You followed a strict routine, probably stricter than even now. You slept early, woke up early, attended 8 hours of school, then did extra-curricular activities and homework, yet still always had time for what was most important to you — play time! Your focus was clear. You were finishing all that work and homework so that you could go outside and enjoy yourself.
Big Dreams. A vivid Imagination. Focusing on Enjoyment. All of these were present amidst a strict routine and long days. They belonged to us as naturally as a fish belongs to water. Then, as we grew up who told us that careers couldn’t be dreams and showers couldn’t be oceans? When did we lose faith in things beyond our realities? When did we start making work our whole life to the extent that we forgot what we should actually be working for — our playtime!
All we need to do is put our life back into perspective. How wonderful would it be if we all lived like children — who honestly demand what they want and when they can’t get it sob for a minute or 5, then quickly forget and go back to loving their life anyway. I wish we all could in a similar manner strive relentlessly for our dreams, cry a little when things don’t go our way, but most importantly learn to make the best of and truly enjoy what we can’t change. In terms of our work, we need to view the requirement of work and other obligations from the lens of a child, who understands that it is not the end goal but the medium to another purpose. Just like we found our childhood purpose in playtime, let’s find and keep in mind our true purpose or goal for which we’re working hard every single day.
So go on, don’t be afraid to be a child. If you’re a parent, this is actually the best time to reconnect with yourself. All you need to do is to spend more time with your child. Their curiosity, open-mindedness and playful ways are infectious. You will be surprised to know and see how instinctive kids are. If not anything else, they will at least relieve your inhibitions about life that’s been lately. Just like them, sometimes you don’t have to think but just be. Present. Fully in the moment.
And if you want an insider’s guide to that, here are some diary scribbles I’ve made over time. Go on, gloss over them!
How to get back in touch with your inner child:
- Play a simple childhood game (Remember Hopscotch?)
- Go out on long nature walks with yourself (or at least watch the clouds, and the stars and the sunset)
- Make a simple 3 step/ 3 ingredient meal for yourself (could be a salad, a pasta, anything!)
- Listen to music
- Break into a random dance
- Do something for the first time
- Get your hands dirty, (glitter, glue, clay, paints, soil, the choice is yours!)
- Take time out to simply focus on your breath
- Make a vision board for your passion and purpose and look at it for 5 minutes everyday.
- If you are a Parent: Spend time with your kids. I cannot emphazise this enough.
Fun fact: A simple act of humming or singing a song requires you to be fully present because at that moment, it is not possible to think of anything else. Not what your boss will say tomorrow or that you have tons of work left to do.
Note to myself: Go out there and just have fun!
Happy Reading, y’all!