Embrace your inner player for unexpected energy boosts

When I first discovered the power of play, I was a newly qualified doctor trapped in endless paperwork. One evening in the hospital’s break room, I found a forgotten deck of playing cards on a side table. On a whim, I shuffled them and asked Nurse Janice if she’d help me play a quick memory game between rounds. At first she laughed, but ten minutes later we were both giggling and feeling oddly recharged despite the long shift.

That night, I realised I’d rediscovered something I’d lost in medical school: the freedom to experiment and enjoy the work process. I started approaching my clerking rounds less like a chore and more like a challenge—each patient became a new puzzle to solve, each chart a branching story. It wasn’t about ignoring the pressure; it was about finding sparks of joy in the very tasks I’d once dreaded.

This shift echoed research on the psychology of play, which shows that playful mindsets can reduce stress, heighten creativity and broaden our thinking. By choosing a play persona, whether that’s a Competitor racing through tasks or a Storyteller inventing narratives, we tap into that same well of energy. The routine wards, once filled with anxiety, became my playground—and productivity followed.

You’ll start by reflecting on what made play so thrilling for you as a child—climbing, crafting, even silly pranks. Next, choose the play personality that calls to you most and mindfully weave its spirit into your next task. Perhaps you’ll ‘compete’ to beat yesterday’s progress or ‘create’ a fresh visual for your report. Afterward, pause to journal how it felt. You’ll find that playful experimentation becomes the secret ingredient to energizing your work—give it a try this afternoon.