About a year ago, I was invited to run a mindfulness session at a large corporate office. The room was filled with professionals, all looking slightly skeptical, arms crossed, waiting for me to justify why they should take time out of their packed schedules for something as ‘soft’ as mindfulness. I could sense the tension, so instead of diving straight into the session, I started with a simple exercise:

“Let’s play a little mindful game if you're willing. For the next 60 seconds, your only job is to notice what’s different in the room compared to when you first walked in. The more the better.”

At first, they hesitated. Then, I saw subtle smiles emerging as people glanced at each other and then started looking around more curiously. One person noticed the flickering of a screen saver, another spotted a colleague’s changed posture, and someone noticed the moving clouds outside. The energy in the room shifted—playfulness had entered.

By the end of the session, a senior leader approached me and said, “That was different. I actually feel… lighter. I think we take things too seriously here.”

This moment stuck with me. How often do we fall into the trap of excessive seriousness at work, mistaking it for productivity? What if we saw a certain degree of light-heartedness and playfulness not as distractions, but as essential tools for creativity, problem-solving, and resilience?

The question is, why bring some playfulness at work, and how can it be done in a way that fosters engagement without being unprofessional, as such.

The Science of Playfulness: What Mindfulness, ACT, and Positive Psychology Teach Us

Mindfulness: Becoming Aware of the Habit of Over-Seriousness

Mindfulness isn’t just about sitting in stillness—it’s about noticing when we’re rigidly locked into unhelpful patterns. Professor Ellen Langer’s research on mindfulness shows that a playful, open-minded approach makes us more adaptive, creative, and resilient. Her famous counterclockwise study, where elderly participants regained measurable youth-like qualities simply by being placed in an environment that encouraged a different mindset, demonstrated how perception influences well-being.

In the workplace, a similar phenomenon occurs: when we treat every task with the weight of the world, our cognitive flexibility shrinks. But when we introduce some novelty, we engage different parts of our brain, boosting engagement and problem-solving.

Learn more about Ellen Langer Here

ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Training): The Power of Defusion and Play

ACT teaches us that we don’t have to take every thought so seriously. In fact, when we play with our thoughts, they lose their grip on us. A classic ACT technique is to take a stressful thought—say, “I must get this presentation perfect”—and sing it to the tune of Happy Birthday or say it in a silly cartoon voice. Suddenly, the pressure softens.

At work, we can apply this by allowing ourselves to experiment and take small playful risks. A team that laughs together when brainstorming is more likely to generate bold and innovative ideas than one stuck in rigid thinking patterns.

Not heard of ACT? Learn more here

How to Bring Playfulness Into Your Workplace (Without It Feeling Forced)

If the idea of workplace play makes you think of cringeworthy icebreakers or forced “fun” activities, don’t worry—this isn’t about that. Playfulness isn’t about gimmicks; it’s about mindset shifts and small habits that create a more joyful and engaged work environment.

1. Shift the Language from ‘Work’ to ‘Experiment’

Google’s 20% time initiative, where employees get to work on passion projects, is one example of how changing the frame changes the experience. Instead of “We have a problem to fix,” try reframing tasks as experiments:

• Instead of: “We need a new marketing strategy by Friday.”

• Try: “Let’s play with some creative ways to approach marketing and see what sticks.”

Even subtle shifts in language can change how people feel about a task.

2. Introduce Mindful Noticing

Backed by decades of research, encourage colleagues to practice mindful noticing in meetings:

• Ask: “What’s something in this room you haven’t noticed before?”

• Encourage people to see multiple perspectives on the same problem. (Langer’s research shows that when we look at things from different angles, we engage a more mindful and flexible state.)

This simple habit reduces autopilot mode and invites a more engaged presence.

3. Use Playful Constraints to Spark Innovation

I personally love this exercise! Constraints force creativity. Companies like IDEO and Pixar use playful limitations to generate breakthroughs. Try:

• The 6-Word Challenge: In meetings, challenge people to pitch an idea in just six words. It forces clarity and often sparks laughter.

• Reverse Brainstorming: Instead of asking, “How do we solve this problem?” ask, “How could we make this problem worse?” Strangely, this often leads to the best solutions as you're looking at the same problem from a totally different angle.

4. Build a Culture of Lightness, Not Just ‘Fun’ Activities

Genuine light-heartedness isn’t about more fun events—it’s about permission to be human. Some ways to cultivate this:

• Leaders openly admit mistakes and laugh at themselves.

• Meetings include a “highlight of the week” where people share a small win or something amusing.

• Teams embrace kaizen (continuous small improvements) rather than chasing perfection.

• Staff are encouraged to share personal stories in their presentations to help them connect with the team.

When workplaces value authenticity and lightness, people feel safer to take risks and engage more meaningfully.

Final Thoughts: The Freedom of Not Taking Ourselves Too Seriously

Bringing playfulness into work isn’t about undermining professionalism—it’s about unlocking a more authentic, innovative, and connected way of working.

So, as you step into your next workday, ask yourself: Where can I bring a little more lightness? You might just find that play isn’t a distraction from productivity—it’s the very thing that fuels it. When you're playing, you are by definition, in the moment.

Learn creative ways to be mindful in our free 31 day Mindfulness Challenge

For a mindful workshop at your organization, get in touch today.