As we grow up, play is often dismissed as childish or unproductive. Society encourages us to "be responsible," prioritizing work, family, and to-do lists over spontaneity and joy.

But play is not just for kids! 

Our nervous systems are wired and desire to engage with others in activities that fill us with excitement and joy and we do not age out of this desire.  

Simply put, play isn’t just fun—it’s a biological necessity.

Managing one’s autonomic nervous system responses can help maintain mental clarity and overall cognitive well-being.

Addressing the root cause of this dysregulation—whether it’s workplace stress or deeper emotional wounds—is essential for long-term mental wellness. Effective approaches may include trauma-focused therapy, exploring attachment styles, and identifying personal triggers.

Therapy is great but can take time to ‘do the work.’ But the good news is there are some nervous system ‘hacks’ that can help your body holistically manage stress.

There is a ripple effect of judgment that goes beyond just the person being judged. The judgments shape our entire social environment, can damage relationships by creating distance or making others feel inadequate, can limit our growth and perspective by keeping us stuck in rigid thinking, and prevent us from learning and evolving.

Mindful awareness combined with attachment theory helps us to look at ‘shoulds’ through a different lens. The first layer we see of a ‘should’ is that it is a judgment; we are labeling something that happened in the past as wrong, negative, or intolerable. The second layer is related to judgment, being defensive and protective. Mindfulness can help soften the ‘shoulds.’ Bring awareness to what you are feeling and thinking. Bring in curiosity to what you may be avoiding. Notice judgment, put it aside and get curious about what else is going on.

When Intense emotions that are negative or positive, like joy or love, are too big to be contained on a page in your journal, they need to be released in another way. These feelings are your body’s way of letting you know what is happening within you — they are like an email or text message that is needing a ‘Read’ receipt. Once the body knows you have received and accepted the message, the energy behind the emotion will start to soften.

To process fiery emotions, dance it out !