Social scientists have shown the importance of play, leisure, and recreation to work-life balance.

Nurturing the inner child

In Western cultures, the phrase ‘never lose your inner child’ is used to encourage adults to pursue curiosity, wonder, and playfulness into old age. This idea has historical roots in ancient cultural myths, religion, and literature. Swiss psychiatrist and psychotherapist, Carl Jung, helped to popularise this meaning through his essay, ‘The Psychology of the Child Archetype’ (p.269). More specifically, he traces the idea of the ‘Child God’ through Greek, Roman, Indian, Finnish, Aboriginal people in Australia, and other cultures, as well as Christianity and other religions, fairy tales, and folklore.

Jung argues that the child archetype is a recurring issue in mental illnesses. Jung positions the ‘child motif’ in psychological therapy as an unconscious, collective process of individuation. That is, we achieve a sense of ‘wholeness’ by embracing the ‘conscious and unconscious elements in the personality.’ The child archetype is a ‘preconscious fantasy’ that comes into our consciousness through dreams and ‘active imagination.’ The child archetype shows us the ‘insignificance’ of abandonment, danger, obstacles, and other difficulties, by pursuing the ‘highest good,’ and ‘self-fulfilment.’

Stories often focus on the child god as a ‘saviour.’ Jung argues that this a metaphor for future change (‘futurity’):

‘The child is potential future… the “child” paves the way for a future change of personality. In the individuation process, it anticipates the figure that comes from the synthesis of conscious and unconscious elements in the personality. It is therefore a symbol which unites the opposites; a mediator, bringer of healing, that is, one who makes whole.’

Carl Jung, The Collected Works of C. G. Jung, Volume 9 (Part 1): Archetypes and the Collective Unconscious, 2014 [1969], p.278

Historically, holidays and special occasions create an opportunity for adults to play and pretend as they did as children, such as during Halloween, entertainment shows, or parades.

More recently, studies are focusing on the importance of employers giving staff time to literally play. That is, to unwind and take a break from the stress of work in the middle of the day. By building in this time for play – and paying workers to do it as part of work time – wellbeing is significantly improved.

Reducing stress

Anthropologist, Professor David Graeber, says that instead of making our working lives easier, ‘technology has been marshalled, if anything, to figure out ways to make us all work more’:

‘Huge swaths of people, in Europe and North America in particular, spend their entire working lives performing tasks they believe to be unnecessary. The moral and spiritual damage that comes from this situation is profound. It is a scar across our collective soul…’

Research finds that 40% of workplace absenteeism ‘could be attributed to stress at a cost of £4.2 billion a year.’

Cardiologist Sarah Speck says that workplace stress and ‘constant connectivity’ represent ‘the new tobacco. ‘ This leads to earlier onset of heart disease for people aged over 40. She says: ‘We need our downtime.’

Companies that maintain ‘an inclusive, flexible, fun environment‘ are more likely to retain staff:

‘Here we see companies providing bus service to work, free dry cleaning delivery, personalised workstations, unlimited vacation, and health and gym facilities on campus. This is a trend we cannot stop – it’s a humane and loving way to treat people.’

Creating space for play

Office planning should include collaboration through fun activities.

‘Provide social spaces to reinforce the importance of fun and social interactions and the company’s commitment to encourage these behaviours.’

– Steelcase, 360°, Issue 8, p.36