How to Infuse More Joy and Play Into Work and Life

At some point, many of us start believing we have to leave certain parts of ourselves behind as we get older. The playful activities we loved as children get replaced by to-do lists, deadlines, and responsibilities. But the truth is, your inner child is still with you, and connecting with that part of yourself is one of the best ways to protect your mental health and avoid burnout.

When I was in the thick of burnout, my therapist asked me the most straightforward question that at the time I was like " what does that have to do with anything?", she wondered When was the last time you did something just for fun for you? And sadly, I couldn't recall. Everything I focused on was for everyone else. My entire agenda was what everyone else wanted to do, and while I enjoyed it to an extent, it wasn't really what I was interested in or would typically choose. It was then that I made a conscious effort to note what I love to do and think back to my happiest memories, recalling what I was doing that made me so happy. Once I started adding those things back into my everyday life, I began to feel lighter. 

Prioritizing fun and moments of joy is not frivolous. It is a powerful form of self-care that helps you feel more connected, creative, and energized in both work and life. The good news is that you don't need a lot of time or a significant life change to incorporate more play into your days. Heck, you don't even need extra money; a lot of joy can be completely free. Small shifts can have a greater impact than you might expect.

So, in this blog, we break down how you can start to bring more joy into your everyday. 

Why We Need Play, Even as Adults

The science of happiness reveals that joyful activities enhance cognitive function, emotional resilience, and physical well-being. Recent studies even linked regular play to lower rates of burnout and heart disease. Researchers of positive emotion have found that happier workers experience more creative breakthroughs, stronger social interactions, and greater teamwork. Small moments of joy can improve your immune system, sharpen your thinking, and help you navigate difficult times with more ease. Play is not just something for young people or parents to plan for their kids. It is an essential part of living a whole and meaningful life at any age.

Play Helps You Reconnect with Who You Are

One of the most interesting things my therapist ever told me is that many people—especially caretakers, high-achievers, and those who are conscientious of everyone else—fall into burnout because they lose connection with who they are outside of what they do for work or income. We spend so much time focused on being productive, helpful, or responsible that we forget we are also people with interests, curiosities, and creativity.

Play reminds us that we are more than our job titles or the roles we fill. When you intentionally schedule time for joyful activities, you permit yourself to tap back into the things that make you uniquely you. Whether it is an old hobby, a guilty pleasure, or simply something that sparks curiosity, these small things help you stay connected to your true self. And that connection is one of the best buffers against burnout.

How to Infuse More Play Into Work and Life

If you are wondering where to start, here are some of my favorite ways to bring more fun and moments of joy into my days:

Get outside: Nature is one of the easiest ways to boost your mood and support mental health. Even a few minutes outside can shift your perspective. On super busy days, I legit open my back door and let the sun hit my face. Instant mood booster! When I have more time, I go for walks and tend to my garden to reconnect with nature and step into something bigger than myself.

Get creative: Whether through art, music, writing, or a hands-on project, creativity reconnects you with your inner child and supports cognitive function. Get your hands dirty and make something. If your career keeps you at a desk or laptop, you need another outlet for your hands. There is something very satisfying about seeing something come to life from your own hands. This is why I love making jewelry or coloring, because your hands are literally making something out of nothing.

Get colorful: Adding color to your living space, work environment, or wardrobe can subtly boost your energy and joy throughout the day. I recently updated the colors on my calendar to match the Savvy Sloth brand colors (which are all my favorite colors), and it has been so much fun to look at my calendar! 

Dance and laugh: Put on music and move. Watch a comedy or connect with a friend who always makes you laugh. These small moments add up. Sending memes or videos that make you laugh to friends and coworkers is another way to bring levity back into your day. I’m also a huge fan of creating playlists or soundtracks (as I call them) to set the mood for my routines.

Dream again: Give yourself space to revisit things you have always wanted to do. Your dreams are part of your core self, and reconnecting with them can be energizing. I love making manifest lists, wish lists, or bucket lists (a lot of lists are happening over here, haha). It’s so empowering to see what you can dream up, and also, I notice how simple some of my wishes are, to the point that I can start to take action on them now.

Try new things: Joining a book club, trying a dance class, exploring a hobby—these experiences keep life interesting and give you a good mood wind that carries into other parts of your life. I often try out new recipes or experiences so that I can be a student again. Learning something new can bring you right back to childhood moments, and when you know the skill, it's so rewarding! 

Plan for joy: Put play on your calendar. Treat it like any other important meeting. Play dates are not just for kids. They are good for your entire family and professional life. I recommend planning your joy first. Before booking other events or meetings. So, if you know that going to the gym makes you happy, schedule it for the week and then book other things around it.

Practice gratitude: Gratitude helps shift your state of mind and primes your brain for more positive experiences throughout the day. If you’re new to this practice, start by listing three things you’re grateful for every day. Bonus points if you can think of new ones daily. You’ll be surprised how much you have going for yourself when you start to actually track it.

Why This Matters for Burnout Prevention and Personal Growth

Adding play to your daily life is not about doing more. It is about creating space for what matters to you. Play allows you to step out of the roles you fill and reconnect with the parts of your story that make life meaningful. In my own experience, incorporating moments of joy into my life helped me recover from burnout and find a healthier, more sustainable approach to my work and personal growth. It reminded me that I do not have to be like everyone else. And neither do you. You do not need to earn your rest. You do not need to prove your worth through constant output.

The easiest way to build a life you actually enjoy is to honor your capacity, embrace what brings you joy, and make space for fun along the way. Acknowledging that you are the captain of your life and you get to control what you focus on and put energy into is a skill that will help you continue to develop, evolve, and maintain control. Burnout is often a result of feeling out of control or overwhelmed, so the more you can tailor your life to your needs and what feels right for you, the more manageable life will be when the natural ebs and flows happen. 

What is one thing you can do this week to reconnect with joy and play?

Maybe it is dancing in your living room, taking a nature walk, or pulling out an old board game. Whatever it is, know that it matters. It supports your well-being, your creativity, and your capacity to thrive in both work and life. If you would like more ideas for adding joy and ease to your life, follow along with our Camp Savvy series ( over on Instagram) this month. We are sharing practical tips to help you create space for what lights you up—because life is too short not to have a little fun along the way.