Working and Playing

Why do we enjoy playing more than working?

Working is about deferred gratification. Work pays us dividends for investing effort over time.  We put in the work, we practice, we develop skills. We become better and stronger at working. We meet our goals. We learn how to work well. We build good working habits.

Working gives us experiences of accomplishment and achievement.

Playing is an explosion of instant gratification. Playing has a sense of humor, a sense of fun. Playing exists in this present moment, not focused on sharpening a skill or hitting a distant target. We play because it feels great. Playing feels good; playing does not have an ulterior motive.

Playing gives us experiences of joy and wonder.

Whether it is physical, emotional, analytical, or spiritual, we are tempted to play and feel responsible to work.

When we want to motivate ourselves, or someone else, we describe working in terms of playing. “Come on, it will be fun.” “You remember how much you enjoy doing this.” We highlight the playful aspects of working.

The people with whom I most enjoy working help me remember that the real difference between working and playing is how I recognize them.

While working is about accomplishing a distant goal, the best way to achieve that goal is often through playing. It is the joy of the flash of insight that motivates me to continue working.

There are projects, and people, who teach me more about the challenges of working well than the wonder of playing. It could be that it is best for them to work with other people. It may also be that they are opportunities for me to spark in them an appreciation of the power of playing.

When do you work? When do you play?

How does playing inform your working life?

[Image by lee]