PLAY: The Secret Medicine for Burnout (And How It Saved Me!)

Let me ask you a question—when was the last time you played?

I don’t mean a quick game on your phone or laughing at a meme. I’m talking about real, heart-pumping, laugh-out-loud, lose-track-of-time play. If it’s been a while, I totally get it. 

As a busy entrepreneur, I spent years buried in projects, goals, and deadlines. I thought working harder would get me where I wanted to go. 

Spoiler alert: it didn’t.

Instead, I found myself completely burnt out. I ended up with a collapsed nervous system, I lost my spark and energy, and I had no idea how to get out of the lost hole I ended up in. That’s when something unexpected came along and flipped my world upside down—improv classes. 

Yup, you read that right. A bit of spontaneous silliness ended up being the missing piece I needed to not only recover but also thrive in ways I hadn’t experienced in years!

How Improv Saved My Sanity

I’ll admit, at first, I was a little nervous about signing up for improv. The idea of getting up in front of strangers and making things up on the spot and having to face my fear of failure and getting things wrong was terrifying. I was used to being in control, sticking to plans, trying to get things right and perfect. 

Improv? That’s a whole lot of uncertainty. 

But guess what? It was a blast! I had that much fun  and been that creative and silly in ages, and for the first time in a long time, I felt completely free. Improv taught me to roll with the punches, let go of perfectionism, and, most importantly, play. Through laughter, spontaneity and fully engaged fun, I began to regulate my nervous system and realised just how disconnected I’d become from joy and aliveness—and how much I needed it! 

The Science of Play: What’s Happening to Your Brain?

Let me geek out for a second. You’ve probably heard of the “fight or flight” response, right? It’s what happens when you’re stressed—your body gets ready for battle or to run away. This response is controlled by the sympathetic nervous system, which is super handy when you’re dealing with immediate danger. But when it’s stuck in overdrive, it leads to burnout.

Enter the power of play! Play activates the ventral vagal state, which is part of the parasympathetic nervous system. This is the state where you feel safe, calm, and connected—basically, where all the good stuff happens. Imagine your body going, “Ahhh, we’re safe! Let’s chill out and have some fun.” That’s what happens when you play. It’s like hitting the reset button on your stress levels.

When you’re in this state, your brain starts firing off all kinds of goodies: improved mood, better creativity, clearer thinking, and a sense of belonging. It’s like your body’s way of saying, “Hey, it’s okay to relax and enjoy life.” And the best part? The more often you tap into this state through play, the more resilient you become to stress. So when I was doing Improv I was playing my way out of burn out! 

How Play Helped Me Bounce Back from Burnout

Improv wasn’t the only way I brought play into my life though. I started making time for small moments of play and presence every day. I’d dance around my living room, get out in nature, go out on dates, on travel adventures and play fun games. 

I also discovered authentic relating games where I explored being really curious, authentic and far more vulnerable in the way I communicated. 

And the results? Mind-blowing!

I felt lighter, more energetic, and way more connected to myself. Instead of forcing myself to power through work, I started approaching it from a place of joy and authenticity. And that shift not only saved me from burnout but also helped me thrive in my business. I started bringing play into my work, too, with clients and teams—and the transformation was amazing. People became more engaged, more creative, and more connected.

Why You Need Play in Your Life (and at Work)

Look, burnout isn’t going anywhere if you keep doing the same things that got you there in the first place. The solution isn’t to work harder or to “power through”—it’s to let go a little, have some fun, and make space for play. When you play, you activate that ventral vagal state, helping your nervous system chill out, your creativity flow, and your joy return.

Plus, when you bring play into your work, it doesn’t just help you—it helps your team, too! 

Play creates stronger connections, improves communication, and sparks innovation. When people feel safe and relaxed, they’re more open to new ideas and collaboration. It’s like putting a secret sauce into your leadership style that gets everyone fired up (in the best way!).

How I Help Teams and Leaders Bring Play into Work

Bringing play into the workplace isn’t just about having fun—it’s about creating a culture of creativity, connection, and engagement. That’s where I come in! 

I work with teams and leaders through workshops and mentoring to help them integrate play into their daily routines. Whether it’s through playful team-building activities or games that unlock creative problem-solving, my approach makes work feel lighter, more enjoyable, and ultimately more productive.

By teaching leaders how to bring play into their leadership style, I help them tap into their team’s full potential, reduce stress, and create a burnout-proof work environment. 

The result? More engaged, motivated, and happier teams that work together like never before.

Want to inject some serious fun into your workplace? Let’s chat! Book a call with me here and let’s explore how we can transform your team’s dynamics and bring some joy back into your workday!

PlayUp: A Game to Help You Play your Way out of Burn Out! 

I’m super excited to announce that my PlayUp game is coming soon! It’s a deck of fun, quick activities and curious questions designed to bring play back into the workplace, boost creativity, and help you and your team regulate your nervous system. 

PlayUp will give you a playful nudge to shake things up and make work feel more like an adventure and less like a grind. Whether you’ve got 5 minutes between meetings or want to kickstart a brainstorming session, PlayUp is the game to get everyone feeling more connected, creative, and ready to tackle challenges with a fresh perspective.

Stay tuned—it’s launching soon - but in the meantime I’ve got something else that can help you! 

I created the Leadership Games Playbook, a fun and easy guide filled with quick games and playful exercises designed to help you regulate your nervous system, boost creativity, and prevent burnout.