20 Ways to Play as an Adult (Just Because)

Joy without a goal. Fun without a finish line.

When’s the last time you played?

Like really played—not for productivity, not for personal development. Just play. No outcome, just joy.

As a kid, I was always in motion, playing sports, drawing, running in the park or riding my bike. Somewhere between growing up and growing responsibilities, we abandon the things that made us feel alive. Often it can be because we think we’re not “good” at them, they don’t make us money or because there’s just no time.

For a while, my work felt like play. We rented desks on Shoreditch High Street, on a floor called "The Playground." We’d mess around with other teams all day, share snacks, trade advice, and then spend the evenings catching up on all the serious work we didn’t do in the day. Some of my deepest friendships came from those days. But even then, it was all in the context of offices and work. Weekdays and weekends blurred. I didn’t make space to play outside of work.

I then took up Taekwondo as a way to have a sense of identity that wasn’t tied to work. Moving my body, learning something new, being around people who didn’t know me as “work Nafisa” felt like an escape. On friday nights I wasn’t Nafisa, CEO and co-founder, I was Nafisa, yellow belt in training trying to master kicking someone in the head. It was here I found my love for play.

As adults, play can feel indulgent, even irresponsible, like something we need to earn. When you’re in a busy work season, play can come with guilt because you’re not doing the 101 things on your to do list. But for me, play has become essential; it’s how I wind down, reconnect, and remember what life is really about.

And while this isn’t about productivity I do find that play also helps me show up better, it’s often during this time where my brain connects the dots on ideas I have been thinking about for weeks. It's where clarity often sneaks in the back door. And it’s backed by science—play reduces stress, improves brain function, supports creativity, and nurtures relationships.

But more than anything, it just feels good and that’s enough.

If you're feeling foggy, maybe it's not discipline you need. Maybe it’s play.

20 Ways to Play as an Adult

The thing about this list is… what feels like play to me might feel boring to you. So pick and choose. And let me know what you’d add! No goals, just joy — and often more fun when shared with others.

1. Go and play in the water

I started swimming last year and I have absolutely loved swimming in lakes. You don’t even need to be able to swim to enjoy it, many outdoor lakes and swim sites offer a tow float to rent or borrow and you can hold onto it and just swim along enjoying the lake views. Here are some I have visited:

• Divers Cove - gorgeous, with Sauna pods and a lil pizza place for a post swim bite

• Shepperton Lake - beautiful, with a coffee van too

• Royal Docks - not my fave when you’ve got the other views to compare, but if it’s local to you, it’s still worth a try

• Beckenham Place Park Lake - a small lake where I did my first open water swim, nestled in a lovely park

• Buckland Park Lake - yet to go but looks dreamy!

Divers Cove, Bletchingley

2. Parallel play—read or draw next to someone

Parallel play is what we used to do in nursery, sitting across the table from each other and just getting lost in our own worlds, occasionally coming up to show each other our progress and have a chat. I stayed over at my friends house and we ended the night reading our books, winding down, it felt so fun and cute to do an activity together that we both loved. You can do this with drawing, colouring, painting or anything really.

3. Go to FAIRGAME

I love Fairgame in Canary Wharf — an adult’s arcade. About £19 per person, you rotate through 8-ish games. Shooting, throwing and whacking things. All-you-can-play deals on weekdays. Perfect for groups or a playful date.

Target practice at FAIRGAME

4. Play pool

Go a couple of pounds? Pop it into a pool table and play pool with a friend, I recently played with two other friends and we made up our own game and it was so fun.

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Play should not be a luxury. But at this very moment there are children and adults in Gaza who are not able to play without a constant threat to life from the Israeli Occupation.

While we reflect on the joy and freedom of play, let’s not forget those who are being denied even the most basic safety. Please consider donating to Children Not Numbers - a charity on the ground, providing immediate aid and working towards sustainable solutions for the children of Gaza.

You can donate to their work here.

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5. Sketch. Doodle. Draw like you're 10 again

I think people give up drawing because they don’t think they are good at it but you don’t have to be good at things to enjoy them. I have recently loved drawing and painting. Doodle away, look up references to copy or just fill the paper with as many designs as you can.

I love looking at illustrations and trying to redraw them

6. Take a trip to the seaside

Seaside towns are full of hidden joys, filled with cute alleys and corners to potter around, fish and chips on the beach and sand in the wrong places.

I recently visited Margate and enjoyed swimming in their tidal pool, afternoon tea at The Walpole, bowling and pool at Bugsy’s and fish and chips at Beach Buoys, it felt like a whole day of play and it was really fun, all just an hour and a half train away from London.

Margate views

7. Games Night with friends

I adore having friends over and playing games, it is also such a good way for people to get to know each other without small talk. Having games night helped build a really cute community in my home and everyone also contributes with their own latest game they are loving. Some of my fave games to play are Code Names, Risk, Werewolves.

Code Names with friends

8. Get on a bike

I feel so free when I am on a bike with the breeze on me, I used to be on my bike all the time as a kid, my first real mode of transport. I am no longer one for road riding and so if you are like me you could go to Richmond Park where you can rent a bike, the views are beautiful, you might see some deers and you can stop to have a picnic by the water too if you fancy it.

9. Build Lego

I really love playing with Lego, building blocks, magnetic blocks and find I get lost in them because the possibilities really are endless. The Lego hub by this year’s Serpentine Pavilion has loads of Lego and a wall to play with. 10/10 would recommend, pre or post a walk around Hyde Park.

The Lego Hub in Hyde Park

10. Visit an exhibition

Summer is when London comes alive and there are so many beautiful galleries and museums to potter around. If you fancy it, a National Art Pass also gets you free and reduced access to loads of places. One of my fave areas to go around is South Kensington because you can have a whole day of play across the museums and galleries, then head over to Hyde Park and end with some delicious food.

The Serpentine Pavilion by Marina Tabassum

11. Arts & Crafts

The possibilities are endless here, go into a hobby craft or an arts shop and a whole world of play opens up, embroidery, clothes making, crocheting and painting.

I think painting deserves its own category to drawing and doodling. Painting is how you bring your doodles alive! I recently painted this for a friend and acted like I had been commissioned.

A pretend-real commission I did for a friend

If you are really doubting your painting ability or are a bit stuck because of perfectionism, the Royal Horticultural Society has some really gorgeous painting by number kits.

Host a craft afternoon with friends

12. Design something just for fun

Whether it is a top, a tote, packaging for a pretend brand (I told you our ideas of fun could be different). Designing the artwork for these newsletters is play for me! Creating on pro create, on a piece of paper or on canva can be a fun way to get in your design bag.

13. Do henna on yourself or a friend

Another medium that sits in the, you don’t have to be good at it to enjoy it. I started doing henna out of a want to have henna for Eid many years ago, and now I treat it as a way to slow down and just enjoy the process of drawing whatever I want on my hands. I especially love things like henna as it is near impossible to double screen while doing it and so you really just focus in your own little bubble.

My Mum doing my henna

14. Make something with clay or playdough

I love buying a pack of playdough from a corner shop or a random bits and bobs store, or air dry clay, I have invited friends over before to just chill and make things with air dry clay. Our hands spend so much time holding phones and typing, it is a real welcome change to be able to mould and shape a bit of clay. TK Maxx often has air dry clay on sale there!

I love corner shops for the random things they sell, sometimes it feels like I’m in a time warp with the stuff they stock

15. Ball games

My 8 yo nephew (aka a play expert) and I spent ages just throwing a ball back and forth, we ended up making our own games too and the other day we ended up playing football. Play has a way of freezing time and before you know it the sun is setting. Play doesn’t need to be extravagant, it can just be a tennis ball in the park being thrown back and forth or a basketball on a free court.

16. Swing on actual swings in a playground

If I ever visit a park with my niece and nephew or friends kids, I cannot help myself, I just have to get involved and it is always so much fun to play in a playground. If you are not blessed to have kids in your life I would still highly recommend going, perhaps in off peak hours just to give the kiddos a chance.

17. Play with kids (or let them teach you)

Kids are always sooo eager to play and will teach you how to, they are the experts. If you are blessed to have kiddos in your life sit and play with them!

18. South Bank art evenings

Southbank centre has loads of free creative workshops. Fom Dabke dance workshops to arts and craft evenings you can get together with other creative souls and generally for free!

19. Play video games

Okay not my way of play but Bonita in the newsletter chat said this is her go to! A way for her to lock in and unwind from work and kids, just uninterrupted play.

20. Watch nostalgic TV shows

I remember every Saturday sneaking out of bed earlier than my parents to go and watch Saturday morning TV. It was the biggest treat. Watch a fave show and the rule is - no double screening.

Hope you enjoy these ways to play and if you have ones to add to the list lemme know in the chat or in the comments!