Embracing Play and Rest: Reflections from My Akimbo Summer Camp Experience
As we close out July, a month often filled with vacations and more play and rest than we get the rest of the year, I find myself reflecting on the transformative experience of participating in the Akimbo Virtual Summer Camp. Lasting four days, this virtual, asynchronous journey made it accessible to participate from anywhere, with as little as 30 minutes a day. I got to connect with people across the US, not to mention Australia and the UK. How cool is that?
Why Adults Need Summer Camp
Through my experience I was reminded that we, as adults, deserve the same opportunities for discovery, connection, play, and exploration that children enjoy at summer camp. Too often, we are consumed by work and life commitments, leaving little room for fun and personal growth.
The Benefits of Play and Rest
If you’re anything like me, I sometimes need to force myself to slow down, and this camp experience provided the perfect opportunity to reaffirm what I know but don’t often practice—play and rest is not only beneficial but essential. Here are some of the benefits of play and rest, backed by research …
- It Fuels Your Imagination: Engaging in playful activities stimulates creativity and opens up new possibilities.
- It Enhances Problem-Solving Abilities: Playful exploration encourages innovative thinking and improves our ability to tackle challenges.
- It Supports Emotional Well-Being: Taking time to recharge helps us manage our emotions and enhances our overall mental health.
- It Allows Unstructured Social Interaction: Less structured environments, whether virtual or in person, foster connections in a relaxed, creative setting and strengthen our social bonds.
- It Helps You Cope with Stress: Playful engagement provides a healthy outlet for stress relief and relaxation.
- It Improves Mood: Incorporating fun into our routine boosts our mood and enhances our overall quality of life.
Highlights from Summer Camp
You may be wondering how a virtual camp actually works. Akimbo is a master at creating online connections and communities of life-long learners working together to level up, and this experience didn’t disappoint. They offered a variety of daily on-demand activities—from Morning Assemblies to start the day with inspirational quotes and videos to Twilight Reflections where we got to wind down from the day and reflect on the day’s experiences through journaling and writing prompts. We even had Flash Seminars and Games to learn and have fun in short bursts. If you’ve never done online coloring or Tetris, you are missing out 😉! There is so much more camp included, but I don’t want to spill all the beans because my hope is you will check it out when they hold their next one.
A Month of Play and Rest
Akimbo Summer Camp served as a powerful reminder that even with my busy schedule and workaholic tendencies, I can find time to engage in activities that bring joy, foster creativity, and support my well-being.
As a societal change maker, you can probably relate to my feelings about there not being enough hours in the day to solve the world’s problems. That is a ton of pressure, and I wonder how much more effective we could all be if we carried the spirit of play and rest into our daily lives. By making space for discovery, connection, and exploration, we get to enhance our own well-being and ALSO bring more joy and creativity into the world around us. Sign me up!
Here’s to embracing the magic of play and rest, and to the countless possibilities they bring into our lives. Thank you, Akimbo, for this incredible experience, and thank you to all my fellow campers for making it so memorable.
Hat Tip to Your Playfulness and Joy,
P.S. Do you want to get updates on our most recent blogs and other free resources we offer? Sign up here for our bi-monthly e-newsletter, The SWGazette.