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# Play
- URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/play/
- Published: 2019-11-29T15:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2019-11-29T15:00:00.000Z
- Author: CJ Chilvers
- Tags: Anxiety, health

Kids used to play a lot more [than they do today](https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/parenting/wp/2016/05/19/4-ways-to-get-kids-to-play-more-and-to-enjoy-it/?ref=cjchilvers.com). I think the same is true of adults.

Remember how it was so common, as to be a cliche´, that every dad was part of a bowling league and an Elks or Moose (or some-excuse-for-drinking-with-friends) Club?

On my last big [sabbatical](https://www.cjchilvers.com/be-alone-without-being-lonely/), I read the book[*Play It Away*](https://amzn.to/2Ougscv?ref=cjchilvers.com), which suggests that a return to play is exactly what we need to relieve anxiety, no matter what your age. It’s also what we need to build stronger communities.

The books [*The Coddling of the American Mind*](https://amzn.to/2OwPLnv?ref=cjchilvers.com) and [*Antifragile*](https://amzn.to/2OurRcf?ref=cjchilvers.com) would agree.

Here’s one of the authors of [*The Coddling of the American Mind*](https://amzn.to/2OwPLnv?ref=cjchilvers.com), Dr. Jonathan Haidt, giving [a talk](https://youtu.be/87%5FiQMiZ09g?ref=cjchilvers.com) on why anxiety has skyrocketed in young people and how reintroducing play, among other things, is the solution:

First, define what is play for you. Sports? Entertainment? Hanging out with friends? Come up with a long list.

Then, schedule it. It’s as important as anything else you’d schedule.