Finding your Happy Place: How play and experimentation unlock inner calm

Play is serious business (for your brain)

When we think of ways to unwind or de-stress as adults, our minds typically jump to well-established but rather obvious options of yoga, meditation, walking in nature or a drink with friends. However, according to neuroscience, we might be missing a crucial component in our mental health toolkit.

Stuart Brown, a pioneering neuroscientist and founder of the National Institute for Play, argues that play is essential for a healthy brain. He identifies different types of play, including rough and tumble, ritual, imaginative, body, object and storytelling and his research shows that engaging in playful activities triggers the release of brain chemicals like dopamine, which makes us feel good, reduces stress and improves cognitive flexibility. In other words, the brain’s ability to think outside the box. It’s like mental reformer pilates but without the weird beds and much more fun.

Additionally, playing releases endorphins, which not only improve mood but also increase brain functionality by enhancing neural connections and boosting creativity. As Brown puts it, “Play lights up the brain, improving everything from mood to problem-solving skills while simultaneously enhancing our ability to adapt to new challenges.” This rush of endorphins, alongside dopamine, is part of what makes play feel so good and why it’s such a powerful tool for maintaining emotional and mental health.

Emma Worrollo, a play researcher at Playful Den who helps build global brands for Gen Alpha families, adds that “play is associated with the development of new neurons; we can think of this like new roads opening up in the mind. This process is very important for learning and for memory.” She explains that while the development of new neurons happens most frequently in childhood, it continues into adulthood, offering lifelong benefits. “The simplest way to think about what play does in the brain,” Worrollo notes, “is to imagine it stirring a big pool, stimulating and awakening it, and forging new life within.”

Play has even been shown to improve social interactions and boost resilience. Neuroscientific research reveals that people who incorporate play into their lives tend to be better at handling stress and have a higher tolerance for uncertainty. So, whether it’s playing a computer game, building the Eiffel Tower or Notre Dame out of LEGO, playing hide and seek in the forest, wrestling with your kids, or just having a spontaneous moment of abject silliness, the brain benefits from these joyful experiences. It’s like your brain is whispering, “Go ahead, build that LEGO masterpiece – you’ll thank me later.”

A creative boost

But play doesn’t just benefit your mental well-being; it’s also a powerful tool for unlocking creativity. Creative minds, especially in industries like art and design, rely on moments of mental openness to generate fresh ideas. And play? It’s like the secret sauce for sparking those breakthrough moments if you’ve been struggling to crack a brief or mulling over a stagnant idea.

Emma Worrollo believes that when we embrace play, we reconnect with the imaginative, free-flowing mindset we had as children. But if you're unsure where to start with play as an adult, Worrollo suggests beginning with simple, low-pressure activities. “Choose something where there can't be a correct or fixed output. Lots of adults are preoccupied with getting things right or having a goal, and these get in the way of truly being at play, so purposefully choose something where these things are less present, for example, finger painting, play-doh, dancing or singing. Don’t be shy to dive into something and choose something removed from your usual choices; novelty and doing something new are good to jump-start the inner child!"

Play lets your mind wander, explore and connect ideas in ways that strict, formal thinking can’t. Just think about the best creative moments you’ve had – they probably happened when you were in a playful, relaxed headspace rather than staring blankly at a screen. Incorporating playful breaks into your workday or your creative process can lead to moments of flow where time seems to slip away and ideas naturally come together.

The creative connection to calm

While play is often seen as a way to unleash creativity, it also plays a significant role in helping us find calm. Think about it: when you’re fully engaged in a playful or creative activity, you’re not obsessing over deadlines, errands or that awkward thing you said at a house party three years ago. You’re present. That’s the magic of play – it pulls you into the moment and, in doing so, helps quiet the mind.

For many creatives, making art or engaging in hands-on projects is a form of meditation or joyful focus. They escape the everyday stresses of life and return to a state of childlike joy. Whether it’s painting, building a Galaxy Explorer with LEGO, or doodling in a sketchbook, these activities create a mental space that lets the mind rest while the hands are busy.

Take the case of illustrator Tishk Barzanji. Originally on track to become a physician, Tishk’s life took an unexpected turn when he became seriously ill in 2013, leaving him bedridden for months. In the past, he’s talked about how he turned to drawing as a means of escape and healing during this challenging period. His artwork, often depicting surreal, dreamlike built environments — featuring intricate architectural spaces filled with vibrant colours and geometric forms — allowed him to emotionally recover while constructing a visual representation of his own personal refuge. By using play and creativity, he not only processed his experience but also crafted a calming, imaginative space where the boundaries of reality and fantasy blur.

Similarly, illustrator Ruby, Etc. uses the comic format to explore and express tough emotions in a playful yet profound way. For Ruby, the act of drawing comics — often filled with humour and exaggerated expressions — helps her tackle themes of mental health, loneliness, and anxiety. “Comics let me take heavy emotions and make them feel lighter,” Ruby explains. “By turning them into something visual and often funny, I can process what I’m feeling without being overwhelmed by it. It’s like a pressure valve for my brain.”

Ruby’s long-standing fascination with comics began in childhood. “I've always been really intrigued and excited by the comic format ever since I was a kid. Images can appear simple, but they often crystallise an emotion or topic in the most brilliant and humorous way, which is what I admire in other comic artists. Comics felt very accessible to me as someone who is self-taught and needed a quick way to create.” Over time, Ruby’s style has evolved. “Since I started making my work, I’ve taken a desire to hold lightness and humour against dark subject matter and made it a bit more subtle and reflective in places so that it goes beyond relatable memes into something slightly more sincere. Maybe it's creative development, or maybe I'm just getting old. Probably both.”

The idea is simple: when we allow ourselves to play, we let our minds take a break from the constant stream of adult responsibilities. It’s not about being irresponsible; it’s about giving yourself a mental reset. And when you reset, you often come back sharper, more focused, and – perhaps most importantly – more joyful.

Reclaiming play as adults

The biggest misconception about play is that it’s something we’re supposed to outgrow. But the truth is, we’re never too old to play. In fact, research shows that engaging in playful activities, especially those that use your hands or encourage social interaction, can have profound effects on your mental health.

Building a puzzle, experimenting with art or even tossing a ball around with a friend are all ways to incorporate play into our everyday routines. These seemingly small activities have enormous potential to shift our mindsets and improve our well-being.

Engaging in play also nurtures the parts of us that hold onto lifelong passions — those hobbies and creative pursuits that we fell in love with as children can sustain us through the pressures of adult life. Muralist Esme Lower brings this approach when she designs murals for public spaces. “I am inspired by cartoons from my childhood and always aim to make myself laugh when I’m initially sketching ideas,” she says. “I usually end up down a rabbit hole where the final design is something totally different from the initial idea. This approach helps me find joy in the process and worry less about the outcome.” For Esme, playfulness isn’t just about having fun — it also allows her to tackle political topics in a dynamic and energetic way, blending humour with activism in her comic-inspired murals.

However, for adults whose job is to be creative on demand, there’s often a danger of losing that spark of imagination. When creativity is required on tap, the pressure to constantly produce can sometimes drain the joy and spontaneity that makes the work impactful in the first place. Emma Worrollo, a play advocate and expert, highlights the importance of staying in the imaginative stage longer to ensure creativity flourishes. “It’s impossible to force good creative work, but you can create a practice to help it,” she explains. “This relies a lot on imagination. Allow yourself time to be in the imagination before you dive into the creative. Imagination is the spark, and creativity is the result.”

Emma likens the process to planting a brief in her mind and letting it simmer. “I like to plant the brief by reading something about the challenge first and then taking a long walk or swim before tackling the solution. Don’t skip the imagination part, even when you don’t think you have time — you need it!”

Creativity and community

We often think of play as something we do alone, but group activities can help strengthen bonds and create a sense of community. It reminds us that we’re not alone in this big, sometimes overwhelming world of adulthood. Play, when shared, can bring people together in unexpected and joyful ways, creating spaces where connection and creativity thrive.

Muralist Esme Lower taps into this collective power of play through her community-centred outdoor artwork. For Esme, creating murals isn’t just about making beautiful art — it’s about fostering a sense of playfulness and connection within the neighbourhoods where she works. When she paints these large, vibrant murals, she invites the whole community to play as the work becomes part of the environment, something everyone can enjoy and engage with.

Illustrator Ruby, Etc. also captures this collaborative spirit in her work. “Something unique happens when everyone is drawing together,” Ruby explains. “Ideas are shared and messed around with in a way that we don't often permit ourselves to do alone. The way people chat as they make results in the drawing being dynamic and energised, and I often find myself coming away with ideas at the end of the day.” This collective energy fuels creativity, making the act of creating together more than just play — it becomes a vibrant exchange of ideas.

Whether it’s through painting murals, organising community art projects, or simply encouraging a spirit of openness and collaboration, play can turn shared spaces into creative playgrounds where everyone is invited. These shared experiences remind us that creativity and community are deeply connected and that play is not only a personal joy but a powerful way to bring people together.

Building your Happy Place

This is where LEGO and It’s Nice That’s Inner Piece partnership comes in. This initiative is all about helping grown-ups rediscover the joys of hands-on, creative experimentation. Whether you’re building a miniature city, a dream home or a beautiful LEGO flower, the tactile act of clicking those little bricks together can transport you to a place of inner tranquillity and joyful focus.

Through this partnership, we’re aiming to inspire adults to embrace this approach to finding their “Happy Place”. It’s about slowing down, stepping away from the digital overwhelm, and getting lost in something simple yet profoundly mindful. The installation and workshops, running from 7-13 October at 37 Eastcastle Street, prove how creativity and play don’t just benefit our mental wellbeing – they can also reinvigorate our work and open up new paths for innovative thinking.

So, next time you feel weighed down by the responsibilities of adult life, remember this: play isn’t just for kids. It’s for anyone looking to feel happier, calmer and more creative. Whether it’s sketching, building or just messing around, you owe it to your brain – and your wellbeing – to give yourself permission to play. Your inner child (and your adult self) will thank you for it.