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In 10th grade, my World History teacher assigned a project to create a multimedia presentation that educated the class about something that changed the world.

Standout presentations included Brett’s History of Baseball in America and Delaney’s Fashion Through the Ages.

My presentation was about… human trafficking. 

It was a real educational downer, but the people needed to know the truth! This was my chance to shine a light on the darkness that kept me up at night. 

My 14-year-old brain couldn’t comprehend why my classmates weren’t using this opportunity to discuss social injustice. It was a travesty, I thought, that they were too absorbed in superficial social trends to use their platform for the greater good! 

If you can’t tell, I was a Really Serious person.

Seriousness is a common ailment among mission-driven business owners. If you’ve dedicated your adult life to being of service in some way, chances are, you’ve been carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders for a long time. 

Over the past decade, I’ve worked hard to learn how to play. 

The irony that I had to work hard to learn how to play is not lost on me. But hard work was the bridge that helped me connect with the part of me that knew how to be silly and playful. It’s taken years, but I’m finally discovering that lightness and depth, joy and sorrow, play and work are two sides of the same coin. 

It’s why I was inspired to talk about balancing play and productivity during the summer months in our June podcast episode.

But when I was listening to the episode last week, I realized that I didn’t talk at all about how challenging it’s been for me to learn to play as an adult.

I wish I had spent part of that episode talking about how hard it is for many business owners to let their guard down in this way. It’s one thing to say, “Yes, I want to be more playful!” But it’s another thing entirely to know how to do that, especially when it comes to blending playful energy into your professional work. 

So, I decided to do some playful brainstorming during our last Council gathering to generate a list of ultra-specific ways Really Serious people are weaving play into their businesses!

(If you haven’t heard me talk about The Council before, it’s my small-group mastermind for mission-driven business owners.)

Here’s what we came up with… 

7 Ways to Weave Play into Your Business

1. Take spontaneous breaks when the weather is fabulous ☀️

Last week, Portland had a heat wave. It was perfect river-swimming weather. Instead of working all day, Nancy and I doubled our focus Monday morning, rescheduled all non-urgent afternoon meetings, and jumped into the river by 2pm. Productive in the morning, playful in the afternoon = the perfect summer work day. 

Can you give yourself permission to cancel appointments and leave projects unfinished during a perfect summer weather day? 

2. Plant something in the soil and watch it grow 🪴

Plants are living teachers. Pop an annual flower in your front garden, put some cherry tomatoes in a pot on your apartment patio, or buy a tiny houseplant to set on your desk. Then, watch it grow! And as it grows, notice what it teaches you about your business.

For example, my dahlias are teaching me about timing and trust—some are sprouting fast, some slow. It’s reminding me that you cannot know what’s happening in the minds and hearts of your potential clients. Sometimes, you just have to wait for them to be ready to raise their hand to work with you—or pop out of the dirt! 

Can you put your hands in the soil and start a relationship with a plant?

3. Weave music and dance into your workday 💃

When you’re not on a call, turn on some tunes. Give your workspace a whole summer vibe. Here are two summer playlist suggestions: with lyrics and instrumental. Council members agreed that weaving upbeat music into our days is the most accessible way to bring more playful energy into our otherwise heavy workdays. Bonus points if you pause every now and then to get up and dance. Carefree movement is such a great way to loosen up and bring more creative, joyful energy into your workspace. 

Can you turn on some summer tunes right now and give yourself a 3-minute dance or movement break?

4. Turn networking meetings into playful activities 🎨

Networking is key—especially now, when client loads are low and referrals matter more than ever. But who says it has to be coffee meetings and Zoom calls? For example, one Council member shared that they are inviting colleagues to go on short hikes together. 

Here are some other ideas: Visit a local museum. Meet for a picnic in the park. Go to an art class. If you think it sounds fun, invite someone to join you! This will also weed out colleagues you don’t have anything in common with, which is a bonus! 

Can you invite a colleague on an unconventional networking date that feels fun and playful for you? 

5. Collaborate with people who make work feel like play 🛝

When the networking date is a fun-filled success, you might find yourself talking about going steady wanting to do some sort of professional collaboration! I love a fun collab project. 

This summer, be picky about who you collaborate with. Seek out co-creators who bring out your silliest, most vibrant self. Remember that your shared project doesn’t need to be serious. Let your playful collaboration be medicine for both of you. 

Can you reach out to a colleague/business friend you like hanging out with and invite them to brainstorm a playful collaboration? 

6. Pack up your laptop and work somewhere unconventional 🧺

New environments spark fresh energy—especially if they bring you closer to nature. When the weather is nice, go outside! Lately, I’ve worked from my backyard, on the front porch, on a blanket in the Rose Garden, in my hammock (not a great angle for Zoom calls, but excellent for inbox time), and sitting outside at various parks and coffee shops. 

Another Council member shared that it’s helpful to timeblock her schedule so that her Zoom appointments are in the morning and her afternoons are free for working in different places. Great pro-tip! 

Can you pick a time next week to work somewhere different? You can even invite a friend to co-work with you, if you’d like the company!

7. Close your computer and work on paper ✍️

Do you ever feel computer fatigue? I do. I feel dread in my chest when I open my laptop. My whole body resists focusing on the screen. When that happens, I take it as a cue to go analog. Journals, fancy pens, paper planners, giant sticky notes. The sky’s the limit! 

For example, I’ve been drafting my newsletters in my journal before typing them into Google Docs, sketching out future podcast ideas with fancy colored pencils, and writing notes to send to people via snail mail instead of email. It feels so playful to work screen-free! 

Can you choose one task on your to-do list to complete without opening your computer? If you need new pens for the occasion, here’s my current favorite brand. 😉

There you have it—7 ideas from a hive-mind of recovering Really Serious people to help you weave some playful energy into your workday this summer! 

Now, I’d like to hear *your* ideas.

How can you bring more play into your work this summer?

What would feel nourishing, joyful, even a little rebellious?

Hit reply and share! I’ll be reading every message.

Here’s to healing ourselves and doing more good work in the world—one playful summer day at a time!

P.S. If this sparked something for you, make sure to catch our latest podcast episode: Balancing Play and Productivity – 🎧 You can listen here, or 📺 Watch it on YouTube here!

P.P.S. I forgot to take a pic at the river during our spontaneous Monday getaway but I did remember to snap a shot of our weekly meeting at a local rose garden.