FLIPSIDE OF MIDLIFE® with Karli Newman

FLIPSIDE OF MIDLIFE®: PLAY IS POWERFUL

Karli Newman

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Play is a powerful wellness tool for women in midlife and beyond! 


This is the first in a series of five episodes that help you foster 'good summer' vibes. Inside, I share 3 benefits of play, plus a few ideas for how you can bring more play into your life. 


Pair this episode with my July 2nd email to notice, nurture, and practice your playfulness this week!


When you’re done listening, visit the National Institute for Play’s website to determine your play personality with this short quiz. If it feels right, share your results with me at karli@flipsideofmidlife.com. I’m an Explorer!


xo Karli


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💻 Explore ELEVATE, my membership for women in midlife and beyond, and get your first month for $10: https://www.flipsideofmidlife.com/elevate-membership


📧 Join my free email list at
https://karli-newman.myflodesk.com/podcast-link-2025


🌐 Visit my website flipsideofmidlife.com 


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Speaker:

It never fails. When July pops up on the calendar, I find myself reminiscing about the carefree summers of my youth. Days filled with play and adventure, evenings I didn't want to end, and plenty of family and friend time. It was so easy to wake up and do it all again the next day! My nostalgia comes from how I felt during those summer months, and I'm guessing you experience some of that, too. While we can't go back in time, we can foster those summer vibes here in midlife and beyond. Welcome to FLIPSIDE OF MIDLIFE®. I'm Karli Newman, your favorite GenX dealer of positive vibes, community builder, and life and wellness coach for women in midlife and beyond. Thanks for joining me here. This is the first in a series of five short episodes that pair with my Wednesday emails in July, 2025. Read and listen to boost your benefits. If you aren't part of my email community, the link to join is in the show notes and transcript. I hope to see you there! This episode is about playfulness. It's something we tend to associate with children, and yes, they do enter a play state more readily than adults, but it is incredibly beneficial for adults, too. It's a human need that doesn't evaporate once we hit the age of 18. It can and does get diluted, however. Our cultural tendency to prioritize productivity over rest means more work and far less play. The National Institute for Play wants you to know that play is the healthiest way to spend your time, after feeding and housing yourself. If that doesn't inspire you to get back in touch with your playful side, maybe these three benefits of play will: Number one, play relieves stress. Play can trigger the release of endorphins, which are our natural feel-good chemicals. And play often leads to laughter, which has been linked to decreased stress and inflammation and may improve vascular health. Number two, play improves brain function. Play can involve learning and challenge the brain. Think about a game of chess or a crossword puzzle, for example. This type of play may help prevent memory problems and can improve thinking skills. And the third benefit, play improves social well-being. When you laugh and have fun with others, it can foster empathy, compassion, trust, and intimacy. A playful nature can help you loosen up in stressful situations, break the ice with strangers, and make new friends. And who doesn't want that? Playing is a way to connect with others. If you're unsure how to bring more play into your life, here are some ideas for you. First, visit the website for the National Institute for Play and take the quiz to determine your play personality. I included those links in the show notes and transcript for you. You can also think about how you loved to play as a child. You may find inspiration there. Another way is to immerse in the experience of a hobby. Get lost in the process rather than the end result. You can also get social when you play. Invite others to join you or look for group opportunities for play. And the last suggestion I have for you is to go to a playful place. Use your play personality to guide you you learned that by taking that quiz. Collectors may head to a trade show, explorers may seek out a new place to go, and storytellers may sign up for a writing class or get lost in the pages of a book. Now that you know the benefits of play and you have a few ideas of how to add more play into your life, I encourage you to get out there this week, in the next seven days, and tap into your sense of play. Play is a powerful wellness tool, my friend. The more you practice, the easier it will be to feel into its power. If you're looking for a deeper understanding of yourself in midlife and beyond, I invite you to join ELEVATE, my monthly membership. Inside, you'll find content and community to help you feel supported, shed the limiting beliefs and behaviors that no longer serve you and gain confidence to be your authentic self. It's a blend of self-paced tools, community connection, and gentle guidance from me. There are so many good things inside. Learn more about ELEVATE and become part of the community at the link in the show notes and transcript. What are your thoughts about this episode, my friend? I'd love to know. Share them with me at karli@flipsideofmidlife.com. While you're at it, let me know what your play personality is. I'm an explorer! Thanks again for joining me today. I'll be back next Wednesday with another episode of FLIPSIDE OF MIDLIFE®. In the meantime, release your playful spirit and have fun.

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