Work has changed a lot in the last few years.
Burnout is real. Attention is stretched thin. And many teams are doing more with fewer people and less energy.

That’s why National Play at Work Day still matters.

Not because work needs more games. But because people need more permission to be human at work. As we shared in last year’s post, play is not about goofing off. It’s about creating small moments that reduce stress, build connection, and help people think more clearly. If you missed it, you can check out our 2025 Guide to National Fun at Work Day

This year, we’re taking it one step further with simple, low-lift ideas that work in real workplaces, even busy ones. These ideas are inspired by Dr. Stuart Brown and his book Play, which outlines different Play Personalities. The core idea is simple: people experience play differently. When you honor that, participation feels natural instead of forced. Use these ideas as invitations, not requirements. Encourage choice. Try one, not all.

What to Do on National Play at Work Day (Based on Your Play Personality)

The Joker

Plays through humor, wit, and light absurdity

Try this at work:

  • Subject Line Remix: Take a real internal email subject line and rewrite it three ways, clear, curious, playful. Vote on which one people would actually open.
  • Emoji Translation: Share a short update using only emojis and have the team guess the meaning.
  • Worst Meeting Ever: Each person adds one sentence to a fictional story about the worst meeting imaginable.

Why it helps: Humor lowers tension and makes it easier to talk about communication habits without blame.

The Kinesthete

Thinks and processes through movement

Try this at work:

  • Stand-Up Decisions: Start a meeting standing. When someone feels clear on their point, they sit.
  • 90-Second Reset: A quick stretch or breath between meetings.
  • Walk and Decide: Pair people up to walk while discussing one real decision.

Why it helps: Movement reduces fatigue and sharpens focus.

The Explorer

Plays through curiosity and discovery

Try this at work:

  • Curiosity Swap: Each person shares something they’re curious about right now, work-related or not.
  • Question of the Week: Post one thoughtful question in Slack that invites reflection.
  • Assumption Flip: Name a long-held habit and ask, “What if the opposite were true?”

Why it helps: Curiosity opens new options without pressure to perform.

The Competitor

Motivated by challenge and progress

Try this at work:

  • Micro-Challenges: Short challenges like shortest meeting, clearest agenda, best handoff.
  • Personal Bests: Track improvement against yourself, not others.
  • Win the Week: Each person names one small win before Friday ends.

Why it helps: Keeps motivation high without creating unhealthy pressure.

The Director

Plays through planning and shaping outcomes

Try this at work:

  • Meeting Redesign: Give someone permission to redesign one recurring meeting for a week.
  • Question Agendas: Replace bullet points with one guiding question.
  • Role Remix: Rotate facilitator, timekeeper, and note-taker roles.

Why it helps: Channels control into clarity instead of micromanagement.

The Collector

Finds play in gathering and organizing

Try this at work:

  • Energy Inventory: Track what drains energy and what restores it.
  • Wins Archive: Log small successes, not just major milestones.
  • Learning Library: Share one resource you actually use.

Why it helps: Makes progress visible and morale tangible.

The Artist / Creator

Plays through making and imagination

Try this at work:

  • Metaphor Mapping: Describe a project as an object, weather pattern, or movie.
  • Sketch the Problem: Draw a challenge instead of explaining it.
  • Color Check-In: Choose a color that represents how work feels this week.

Why it helps: Gives teams a new language for complex topics.

The Storyteller

Plays through narrative and meaning

Try this at work:

  • Two-Minute Story: Share a moment when work felt meaningful.
  • Origin Stories: Revisit why a project or team started.
  • Future Headlines: Write the headline you hope your team earns six months from now.

Why it helps: Reconnects people to purpose when motivation dips.

The Connector

Plays through relationships

Try this at work:

  • One-Question Rounds: Everyone answers the same human question in under 30 seconds.
  • Gratitude Pairs: Pair people up to thank each other for something specific.
  • Peer Spotlights: Highlight invisible work.

Why it helps: Builds trust and belonging without awkward bonding.

One Last Thing

You don’t need to do all of this.
 You don’t need to label people.
 You don’t need permission from a policy.

Play works best when it’s an invitation, not an obligation.

Pick one idea that feels doable. Try it with curiosity. Notice what shifts. The goal isn’t more energy for the sake of energy. It’s clarity, connection, and a workday that feels a little more human.

If you’re not sure where to start, our Play Personality Guide can help. It gives you insight into how you and your team naturally engage with play, so you can choose approaches that feel supportive instead of forced.

 

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