When you think about playing, you might conjure up memories from childhood, like digging around in the sandbox or playing a game of tag with friends. But when was the last time you took time to truly play?

If you can’t remember, you may be missing out on some serious benefits, especially as we begin to come out of the Covid-19 pandemic, which women bore the brunt of. When adults make time to play, it not only brings joy but is crucial for problem solving, creativity, sleep quality, brain function, confidence and relationships. As an executive career coach, I’ve noticed my clients having bouts of depression, or just feeling exhausted and burned out as a result of the challenging past year.

One solution I recommend is to make time for play and real fun. And while your idea of this today probably doesn’t involve sand, a bucket and a shovel, here are three ways you can incorporate your own version of play into your daily lives: