What If Play Is Actually the Most Important Work You'll Ever Do?
Apr 9, 2025
Feeling bogged down by endless work? Discover how play, often sidelined by productivity, is actually essential for creativity and well-being. Embrace the idea that play can redefine work—what if doing chores felt like a game or emails turned into a fun challenge? By shifting your perspective, everyday tasks can spark joy. Remember, play isn't just for kids; it's a lifeline for adults too. Laugh more, move your body, and reconnect with your natural state—play might just be the most important work you’ll ever do.
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Work vs. Play Conditioning
We're conditioned from a young age to view play as a limited luxury, appropriate only after work is done.
This separation of work and play is ingrained early on.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Early Discouragement of Play
In second grade, Chase Jarvis's teacher discouraged his creative pursuits like magic shows and comedy.
She urged him to focus on "more serious stuff."
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Prioritizing Play
Flip the script: play first, work second.
Play acts as a circuit breaker, enabling revival and rest.
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A Practical Guide to Freedom, Creativity, and a Life You Love
Chase Jarvis
In 'Never Play It Safe,' Chase Jarvis argues that safety is an illusion that holds us back from true fulfillment and extraordinary success. The book is structured around seven core 'levers': attention, time, intuition, constraints, play, failure, and practice. Jarvis draws from his own transformative experiences and insights from top entrepreneurs, artists, athletes, and performers to help readers break free from the comfort of playing it safe. He provides practical techniques to train attention, unlock potential, and achieve a life filled with freedom, creativity, and fulfillment.
Hey friends, Chase here.
Ever feel like your life is all work and no you?
Emails. Deadlines. Chores. Repeat. Somewhere along the way, we traded play for productivity—and we’ve been tired ever since.
Why We Forget to Play
From a young age, we’re taught that play comes after the work is done. But here’s the catch: the work never ends. So we keep pushing joy to the sidelines.
Play Isn’t a Luxury—It’s a Lifeline
Play isn’t just fun. It fuels creativity, lowers stress, and helps us feel alive. It’s not the opposite of work—it’s what makes work meaningful.
What If Work Could Be Play?
What if you danced while doing dishes? What if you made emails a game? What if you stopped calling it “work” and started calling it “life”?
It’s not about changing what you do. It’s about changing how you see it.
You Were Born to Play
Play is your natural state. You don’t have to earn it—you just have to remember it.
So go ahead. Laugh more. Move your body. Get weird.
Play might just be the most important work you’ll ever do.
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