There are many phrases and terms we’ve all become familiar with throughout the pandemic and I’m sure the concept of “languishing” is one of them. If you hear Organizational Psychologist and Author Adam Grant talk about his experience of languishing, it was a video game with family members that helped to change things for him.

After reading this recent BBC article on the importance of playfulness and adults, I was inspired to see how other SAS employees have found ways to incorporate playfulness into their lives. It's a practice that's beneficial on a good day but I think really crucial when living through several years of a pandemic. Playfulness can also be a positive practice in relationships.

In the last two years I have certainly cycled through some different avenues of play.

• Board games like Code Names (which you can safely adapt to a virtual option using Horsepaste) and Sequence have been my go-to’s. I become a little too obsessive about finishing puzzles once I start them, but they certainly are a good way to pass the time.
• Video games like Catastronauts and Overcooked bring out the gamer in me.
• For outdoor activities, last year I bought a skateboard with the realistic goal of just learning how to stay on rather than ever doing real tricks. When we go on walks, my partner and I will alternate who chooses the next street to turn on just to bring a bit of variety and play to the everyday.
• In my weekly and daily routines, I look forward to the Sunday Times crossword. Each day, the NYT Crossword app Spelling Bee feature has me aiming for the "Genius" level of word finds. And yes, every morning I now pull up a different browser for my partner to see who can find the day's Wordle word in the least amount of tries.
• Even with chores I'll do things like set a 5 minute timer and see how much I can get done in the kitchen. Or put on a favorite record so I can mix some dancing/movement with cleaning.
• With no cost or time investment, spending so much time together alone throughout the pandemic, my partner and I have seemed to create a new language of words for things and songs with altered lyrics for different situations.

We can always benefit from new ideas and suggestions. So here are the responses from employees who answered my call. These ideas can be done solo, with a partner, with family, friends and kids. What new things can you try?

Card Games, Board Games, Word Games, Video Games, Indoor Activities

• Backgammon
• Phase 10 (card game)
• Jenga
• UNO or UNO Flip – like traditional Uno but with a twist since the deck is double-sided. We had a lot of fun with this one over the holidays.
• Go Fish, Old Maid, etc.
• Mancala
• Speed (card game)
• Zoinx – One of the things I like about this game is the rules are very adjustable. We made a rule change to accommodate my child who is disabled and can't easily make choices and roll her own dice, and we found that we like our new rules better than the original.
• One of my favorites is a form of carousel rummy that is entertaining since you get to play on others cards and try to wreck their plays by beating them to the punch. When grandkids and even great-grandparents were all together, they were all able to enjoy playing it together. This became a fun tradition during get-togethers during the cold winter months, but also served as a calming, back-to-pleasant time that can serve as a tool for recovery when loved ones are in the hospital but are still able to have visitors and play cards. The nursing staff were always smiling at our semi-quiet playfulness of this card game during prolonged hospital stays.
• Sudoku – I know, the new favorite trend is wordle, but I like pencil to paper.  I worked through more than one book of not trivial puzzles during the time we’ve been home.  It’s a regular thing that I’ll pick up the book when we’re “watching” Hallmark for the umpteenth time and I just want to keep my head active.  😊
• Cahoots - a family favorite and also very adjustable. We're never quite sure we're playing by the exact rules but we always have fun playing.
• Play Monster has several card games we like a lot:
  • SET – look for sets of matching colors, shapes, and/or patterns – simple concept but deceptively challenging
  • Zangle – try to match the cards in your hand to a target shape – challenges your spatial relationship skills 😊
  • Quiddler – sort of "Scrabble"-ish but with cards
• Rack-o
• Battleship
• Don't You Forget It - a dice game
• I just entered my family into a local jigsaw competition.
• I remember when we had just had our first kid and were so tired and crabby from not sleeping and our lives being turned upside down. We pulled out my old Atari and plugged in into our fancy TV. We played Combat – the game with tanks where you tried to hit each other. We laughed so hard and felt so good. Since then, when either one of us starts to feel crabby, we play video games together. The kids took the Atari so we play Diablo and Destiny on the PS4.
• We still play D&D with our group from over 20 years ago.
• Dance parties – in the middle of living room, when prepping dinner, after kids bath time, etc. – to whatever random songs Google Play selects
• Pet animals are a great source of playfulness. Really take the time to get on the ground and play with them with whatever toys they enjoy.

Outdoor Activities

• My husband and I go geocaching regularly. Part of some geocaches is to solve puzzles.
• I'll either create or find a workout and invite some friends to a park to do it together.
• I highly recommend joining a sport or activity that you feel is really for kids. I joined a kickball team (and eventually became captain) in my early 40s when I was in the midst of a divorce. We had matching shirts, wore crazy fun socks, played kickball and had theme nights and parties that included dressing up in costume and/or simply dressing up! It sparked change in my life and I made a ton of friends in the process. 😊
• Hula hooping
• Blowing bubbles/turning on a bubble machine in the backyard
• Pickleball!  I have two different ways of operating… competitive and friendly.  When I started back it was always friendly play at the community center (once we could go back – with masks).  In fact, at this point, on a weeknight, almost all of the people there know me by name.  I’ve met so many lovely people.  For my competitive play… that’s been fun too… to try and improve and play at a higher level is stimulating.