My recommendation: find a joy in life and follow it. Even though I was a drummer in my youth, I always loved guitar - so at age 50 I’ve been teaching myself how to play guitar. There are many websites where you can find chords, lyrics and how-to videos. It’s a wonderful respite from work, politics and daily chores while still challenging my mid-age brain to do new things. You can teach and old dog new tricks...it just takes time and patience and some missed notes!
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EVERYONE has a "MEMORY STORY" to tell - don't let that STORY go into the casket or ashes with you - WRITE your own 'self-published book' for family and friends. YES - I'm doing it!
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I certainly subscribe to the idea that adults need to play more often and enjoy lighthearted activities that allow the imagination to roam freely. I was. however, disappointed that all the suggestions here point to things you need to buy to have fun - as if fun has to be in a neat package and includes instructions. I think that the author has missed the point. I would have rather suggested ludic activities that don't need you to be purchased.
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You forgot knitting! It's good for your brain and keeps one off of their phone or computer!
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I love this! Have a 4 year old son and we are playing with pencils and mazes these days. Due to present resources we are pretty low tech. I am grateful and we have fun! Thanks for this and your other great articles!
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I've been enjoying the new coloring books for grown ups. They are great for air travel and relaxing. I just use a limited palette of colors to keep it simple. Watercolor crayons are nice for larger pieces and fun to watch the transformation when you paint with water at the end.
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it's a shame that all of the suggestions for "playing" involved buying more stuff (a drawing tablet instead of a pencil & paper?).
suggestions from my 2 yo: build a fort from the couch cushions, take a walk outside, play toys, hide & seek/sardines
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How did jigsaw puzzles not make the list? They're so simple and satisfying.
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I strenuously object to condoning drones as "smarter living" playthings to the wide NYTimes audience. The sky is a commons, not a place to litter with more visible mechanized trash and its noise. Imagine allowing any and all drones--not just the toys your Smarter Living column favors but also the massive fleet Amazon will use if it gets its way—and when doesn't it get its way?—not to mention government intrusions into my, your, and everybody else's clear skies. This ominous would-be future must be pushed back against, not encouraged.
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Is this smarter living? Anyone thinking of buying a slime kit should simply look on the internet: you can get the fixin's at the grocery store, and maybe you'll also need to buy some glue. Drawing? how about some scrap paper and a pencil? MIDI keyboard -- ok, but so what? Drones around the water cooler? how about paper airplanes? and so on....the reality is we could all be drinking tap water, mixing our own laundry detergent, and rinsing our own salad greens. But we are too smart, and possibly too rich for that. So we line up for fun new products -- as our parents and grandparents have done -- and bring our newly revised shopping lists to the company store. Consumer demand drives the economy, or the economy drives us? Ask the drones....
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I’m 70 and routinely buy myself toys; drones, puzzles, paint sets, those big complex lego kits, etc. Also, things like teaching my dog freestyle dance moves or getting an art therapy session are in the category of play. Sadly, many Adults can be even more boring than staring at a screen. Everyone wants to sit around and drink coffee or wine and talk.
I love having something so much fun planned that I can’t wait to go play.
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