Deep Play: Recharge Your Creative and Mental Energy

The gist: Tired of burnout? Learn how deep play offers intentional, engaging self-care designed to recharge your mental energy and boost creativity. 

When you think of self-care, what's the first thing that comes to mind?

For most of us, it's probably rest - and lots of it.

But while rest is definitely important (which is why we talk about it so much at Work Brighter), it's not the only kind of self-care you need.

Sure, deep rest will help recharge your physical energy. But what about your mental energy? Or your creative energy?

Those need recharging and cultivating to as well, and that's where deep play comes in. 🎉

Deep play is actually one of the most important parts of the creative process, as discussed in a favorite book of mine, Bored & Brilliant.

You know those work-related "aha moments" that always seem to come at the most random times totally unrelated to work? That's deep play doing its thing.

So let's talk about what deep play is, why it matters, and most importantly, how to get more of it in your life.

What is deep play?

Deep play is intentional, engaging, recharging play that's different from your typical Netflix binge or social media scroll. While those activities definitely have their place, deep play is more engaging and energizing.

Think of it as productive play.

It often involves using “work” skills like creativity, planning, and problem-solving, but in a completely different and fun context that has nothing to do with your to-do list.

For example, you might use the same strategic thinking and planning skills playing a video game as you do planning projects at work. But since you're using them to save a virtual kingdom instead of writing reports or briefs or other deliverables, it feels like play instead of work.

Because deep play is so engaging, it often leads to a "flow state" - that feeling where you're so absorbed in what you're doing that you lose track of time.

And that’s a sure sign that your creative and mental energy “tanks” are nice and full. 🙌

Why is it important?

So why does deep play matter? Why isn’t “regular rest” good enough?

Fuels different kinds of energy

First of all, it recharges your energy in ways that are different from (but just as important as) deliberate rest.

While “regular rest” helps restore your physical and mental batteries, deep play focuses more on recharging your mental, creative, social, and spiritual energies.

Improves work skills

Plus, given that it usually involves work-related skills, it's also like a low-stakes training ground for your deep work skills.

Deep play activities often require the same mental muscles you use during focused work - but without the pressure of deadlines or consequences.

This lets you practice and strengthen those skills in a fun, more relaxing way.

Benefits mental health

Finally, play itself…like any kind of play, not just deep play…is a powerful mood-booster and stress-buster. Research has shown that people who make time for play tend to have better mental health and lower stress levels overall.

As Alex Soojung-Kim Pang points out in Rest: Why You Get More Done When You Work Less: 

“Creative people don't engage in deep play despite their high levels of activity & productivity; they're calm and productive because of deep play.”

In other words, their dedication to play helps them maintain the energy and skills required for their high levels of productivity.

Characteristics of deep play

Similar to deep rest, practically anything can be a form of deep play, depending on your intentions and how you go about the activity.

And it’s super personal; something can be deep play for one person but shallow/mindless play for another.

For an activity to be considered deep play, according to Pang, it needs to have at least one of the following characteristics:

• Mentally absorbing/engaging: maybe you lose track of time or go hours without feeling the urge to check your phone.
• Provides a non-work context to use deep work skills: it uses skills and engages parts of your brain used for productive activities, but in a lower pressure and more enjoyable environment.
• Offers a familiar sense of satisfaction: making progress or achieving things in the activity provides a sense of satisfaction in skills you use at work, but gives different rewards for it.
• Has a connection to past identities or passions: we tend to enjoy deep play activities that remind us of past “versions” of ourselves that we were proud of, or that have some connection to other interests or passions of ours (past or present).

Of course, what meets these criteria is different for everyone, so it’s less about what you’re doing, than how you’re doing it.

Examples of deep play activities

So, what does deep play actually look like in the real world?

Here are some common examples:

• Gaming: open-world video games, strategy games, or puzzle games that require planning, problem-solving, or creativity (bonus for collaborative/multiplayer games that also engage your social energy)
• Creative hobbies: drawing, painting, creative writing, or crafting that engages your imagination
• Reading activities: annotating books, solving mystery novels, or participating in book clubs that also provide social connection
• Physical activities: rock climbing, boxing, soccer, dance, and any other sport that can combine mental strategy with physical movement
• Collection-based hobbies: curating collections, organizing trading cards, or maintaining detailed databases of interests (sometime I’ll need to show you my Notion database of every Agatha Christie story, from book to short story to play, that took me forever to build 🙃)
• Problem-solving activities: escape rooms, jigsaw puzzles, or DIY projects that require creative solutions
• Learning pursuits: studying a language for fun or learning an instrument
• Experimental cooking: trying new recipes or developing original dishes for fun

Like I said earlier, whether or not something is deep play depends less on inherent characteristics of the activity, and more on how you approach it.

A perfect example of this is the different roles dance has played in my life over time.

There were times when dancing definitely felt like work, whether it was for a competitive team, it was rehearsal for another kind of performance, or I was just putting too much pressure on myself to improve and perform.

But now I intentionally try to approach it as deep play that nourishes me, instead of another job or career. And it’s become kind of perfect for me for that. 😀

How to figure out deep play ideas to try

So, how can you figure out the perfect deep play activity for yourself?

Here are three ways to brainstorm deep play ideas that will work for you:

• Consider your past hobbies. What activities used to bring you joy that you've drifted away from? These past interests often make great deep play activities because they already have an emotional connection for you.
• Look for "alternate contexts" to use your favorite work skills. If you love the strategic planning part of your job, try strategy games. If organizing information is your favorite part of work, try spending some time tinkering with tech tools for things unrelated to your job (that’s right, building a Notion database can be deep play! 🤓)
• Think about new ways to use existing skills you have. For example, maybe you’ve always been praised for your writing at work, but have never enjoyed the task. Trying creative writing or blogging about something you enjoy and are passionate about might uncover some new feelings about writing.

The key is finding activities that feel engaging and fun, while still giving you that satisfying feeling of using your skills and making progress.

When you find the right deep play activity, it should feel both challenging and enjoyable - like you're flexing your mental muscles, but in a way that energizes rather than drains you.

Time to play

So what are you waiting for?

Go find your perfect deep play activity and start recharging those creative batteries! Whether it's gaming, crafting, or something totally different, the most important thing is that it feels fun and engaging for you.

And if you liked this post, you'll also love:

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• 9 Books to Help You Unlearn Hustle Culture
• 3 Strategies to Make Boring Self-Care Tasks More Fun