Holiday PSA: Remember to Play

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“Sometimes it’s okay if the only thing you remembered to do today was breathe.” – unknown

There’s a difference between being tired and exhausted, isn’t there? If I wasn’t so exhausted, I’m sure I could tease it out. Somehow an avalanche of work obligations, the kids school and social commitments, and holiday preparation all landed at once in my life. I’ve been tackling as much as I can every day, sleeping hard every night, and then getting up to try to shovel out again.

Somewhere in there I’ve noticed three things that become a lot harder when I’m exhausted: being present, generating humor, and keeping the faith. As someone who typically has a lot of energy, or at least consumes enough sugar to fake it, I was surprised that those depend on having some gas in the tank. [case in point, I think I could have made that sugar joke a lot funnier if I wasn’t so tired!]

As usual, my kids save me. Usually because they provide so much distraction that I can’t take getting stuff done too seriously.

But in this specific case, because I had to take them to a delightful indoor play place for a birthday party this weekend. Painted all over the walls were some really good quotes that pointed out the benefits of play:

“Think what a better world it would be if we all – the whole world – had cookies and milk about three o’clock every afternoon and then lay down with our blankies for a nap.” – Robert Fulghum

“It’s a happy talent to know how to play” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

“Those who play rarely become brittle in the face of stress or lose the healing capacity of humor.” Stuart Brown

I can’t be the only one exhausted at this time of year so I thought I’d share these with you. Also, I think I write about this every year about this time so I’m hoping that writing about these will help future me skip the stress and remember to play. [Again, I think that had some potential to be funnier.]

Here’s to play – or at least cookies and milk and then a nap!

You can find me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wynneleon/ and Instagram @wynneleon

I host the How to Share podcast, a podcast celebrates the art of teaching, learning, giving, and growing.

I also co-host the Sharing the Heart of the Matter podcast with the amazing Vicki Atkinson.

74 thoughts on “Holiday PSA: Remember to Play”

  1. Your post couldn’t be more time appropriate for me Wynne. Even the energy required to alter my current facial look seems non-existent. So, as your introductory quote suggests I’m concentrating on ‘breathing’ 🙂

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  4. Wynne, you’re not the only one who’s exhausted and tired and spun out at this time of the year. The days are shorter, it’s the season of joy and we’re supposed to be filled with joy, but we have so much to do and seemingly so little time to do it in. It is this time of the year when I have to remember Stephen Covey’s story about big rocks and small rocks. You have to take care of the big stuff because if you get hung up on the small stuff, you’ll never get the big stuff in your life done. Thank you for reminding me of what is important. Have a wonderful week. Peace.

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  5. You remind me today Wynne that it’s “Better to do something imperfectly than to do nothing perfectly.” Or this advice by Sheryl Sandburg, “Done is better than perfect.” Or even this advice by Vince Lombardi, “Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence.” Finally … if it’s humor you were looking for, you achieved it. You made me laugh! Sleeping and then getting up to shovel some more!!! Yes, I can relate and laughed too! Be sure to find some time for yourself!!!!

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  6. Robert Fulghum is a witty and wise minister and writer. His name was better known 25 years ago than today, but his writing is worth everyone’s time. I think he lives in your part of the world, Wynne. Thanks for the reminder that he is still out there.

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    1. Oh, I love that you cued in on Robert Fulghum. He is indeed from Seattle — a taught for many years at the private school that Bill Gates and many of my friends intended. In a little not-so-small town gossip, a decade or so ago he stole my neighbor’s girlfriend. Or so the gossip on the street goes… 🙂

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  7. This is such a timely reminder for me, so thank you for sharing, Wynne! It really is kind of astonishing how that deep exhaustion can deplete our capacity for being present, generating humor, and keeping the faith; I’ve noticed the same in myself recently. Maybe I just need to get out and plat more! 😉

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  11. I remember those days so well. Also my daughter’s birthday is December 15th and I wanted her to have the perfect birthday party! I worked in retail management so I worked about 12 hours a day at Christmas. By New Years I was always sick. I could have used those quotes then. I’m retired now but still try to do too much in December, but now its just a habit. I do have tea and cookies at 3 and a nap. I highly recommend it. Your post was funny by the way.

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    1. Holy smokes, Darlene – you had your hands full!! I love what you say about it being a habit – isn’t that interesting? Tea, cookies and naps – a great way to counter the effects! Sending you all the best wishes, my friend!

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  12. Play time is definitely good for the soul, Wynne.🥰 I had an out of town meeting this past weekend, and afterwards I went to my sister’s house and spent a few hours with her and her little ones (4 of them—ages 1-6). I had so much fun with them! I needed the play time and a nap.😊

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  13. I identify with your experience of exhaustion, Wynne. Many years ago I learnt that I had to pace myself – and what that looked like for me. What was more important was that as I got older physically and mentally I had to know myself better and relearn the lesson as pacing myself looked different. There’s also a lesson somewhere here about knowing ourselves, to know when we’ve overdone it, and how we recover best, to be our best selves again.

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  14. I have had an exceptionally challenging time these past few months. I do need cookies, milk and a nap. Both kids had surgery, my dad was hospitalized, I’m getting him moved into assisted living, selling his house and dealing with another issue that’s making me tear my hair out. So, it’s cookies or Frango time. Take care of yourself, too!

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    1. Ah yes – the Frangos — yet another thing on your list, Elizabeth!! Not to mention your class! You have had an exceptionally difficult few months. I hope the milk and cookies do a bit of the trick for you!

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  15. Yes, it happens to all of us and I love that those quotes literally popped up right in front of your exhausted face. Over the years I came to realize and live by the credo that no matter what does and doesn’t get done, I can rid it all , some things will slip through the cracks, won’t happen as planned or as I hoped and it will will still be okay. I learned this from my kids too and as I’ve said a few times here, I’d often declare , as I still do, ‘ well, we’re all still alive!’

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    1. I love having the fallback of “We’re still alive!” That’s so good, Beth. You’re right – we can’t do it all and it will still be okay – great lessons learned! Love hearing this from a woman who has been through it!!

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  17. Wynne, this post reminded me of a quote from “The Flash” television show which aired a few years ago. “Make the plan. Execute the plan. Expect the plan to go off the rails. Throw away the plan.” The other one that came to mind was from the novelist Charlotte Bronte…”Life is so constructed that the event does not, cannot, will not, match the expectation.” I think once we can convince ourselves planning and events most often than not take on a life of their own, we can exhale and kust get back to enjoying the journey towards whatever destination we land upon.

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    1. Ah, I like this philosophy, Bruce. It reminds of something I just heard from Prof Angus Fletcher that there is value in planning just in the envisioning even if it never goes to plan. We just get the benefit of having thought it through — at least a little! Hope you are enjoying the holidays!

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  18. Wynne, you always have so much going on in your life, sometimes I shake my head and wonder how you do it. What things can you play hooky from, at least for a short while? Is everything necessary, or does it fall on the “I want it badly” list, but in reality it can be placed in a holding pattern? Mental exhaustion from keeping everything going is a real thing and can hit any of us any time. It’s okay to take the foot off the gas for a while, no one will judge you… if they do, maybe they need to be placed on pause or a time-out for a while! If you’re the one judging yourself, I hope you can practice being kind to yourself, and allow yourself the time and space to just do less! The world won’t stop turning, your kids won’t become delinquents and you may just end up feeling better!

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    1. Ah, I love the way you are looking at this from systematic level. And I’m laughing about the kids not becoming delinquents. There are some very real end dates that I’ve already hit so this becomes more manageable so I’m just staying afloat til that happens. And it’s working — mostly… 🙂 Thank you for helping me think it through, my friend!

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      1. Of course! Sometimes we just need to hear it from the outside of our heads how much we’re pushing ourselves!

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  19. The cookies-and-milk movement is something I could get behind!

    And it’s easy to become exhausted this time of year. I’ve personally been yawning all day long after a super busy Sunday. Good thing I’m not behind the wheel of a car today.

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  22. Our kids help us add gas into our tank through the sheer act of play and fun. I had a similar day yesterday when I decided to just focus it all on T and play and felt so energized again after. Such a wise insight and so timely for the exhausting gauntlet of the holidays. Hope the rest of your week fares better, Wynne!

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    1. Brilliant to just focus on T – aren’t we lucky to have these wonderful sources of play?! Love your affirmation that it worked to fill up the tank. Even though our lovely children also add to that work load. Thanks, Ab! I think this week should be much better!

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  24. I think a lot of people struggle this time of year. The days are short for us in the Northern Hemisphere, and so many people are sick with the flu and colds. I used to limp to the finish line when I was still working and often ended up in bed over the holidays.

    It was so much fun to act like a little kid again with my grandson on our recent visit.

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  27. I’m with ya, sister, so overloaded and exhausted with no end in site… Thanks for writing this, those quotes are so apt for the moment. I’m definitely ready for cookies and milk and an afternoon nap. 😴🍪

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  29. ‘Tis the season, Wynne! I love all the quotes and your wisdom. Don’t forget to breathe. And I’ll take cookies anytime. I’ve already made molasses bars with walnuts, and tonight I’m making English Toffee. I wish I could share. Enjoy the season with your family. ❤️🎄

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  31. Those quotes are gems, but the real gem is your ability to find meaning even when your tank is empty. Here’s to cookies, milk, naps, and the kind of play that helps us feel human again. Hope you get all three soon.👍🏻🙂💛

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  32. I really needed to read this today Wynne. It hits home how easy it is to get buried under the to-do list and forget to just breathe, laugh, or even take a nap. My best self-care is maybe five minutes of silliness and watching the night sky.

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  34. Such great quotes! I like how you “found them” in the natural course of your day at a time when their message was helpful. It seems like life often gives us little messages and reminders right when we need.

    Of course it also seems like the life often gives us extra problems, right when we do not need them! 😂

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