10 Quick Play Breaks for Busy People

Five-minute (and under!) playful activities that can inject creativity into even the most hectic day

“I’m too busy to take a break,” we say as we get increasingly wound up, tighter and tighter, in our productivity pressure-suit. I’ve been caught in this trap many a time, telling myself I can earn a break WHEN I get my work done. That’s ass backwards! When we’re stuck or stressed, a break fuels our creativity and resilience way more than clenching our teeth and trying to strong arm our way through.

Science backs us up here: breaks aren't indulgences—they're neurological necessities that help us manage our energy, emotions, and ability to work through challenges. Plus, they provide little pockets of joy and possibility. Our creativity doesn’t always need more hours, it needs more aliveness.

But not just any break will do. No, no! Mindlessly scrolling our phones actually increases mental fatigue, while intentional playful breaks activate different neural pathways that reduce stress and boost creativity.

In my years as a creative director, I've discovered that even one minute of genuine play can shift the energy, reset the brain, and shake off the blahhhs and I love leading groups in these playful shake ups.

So without further ado, here are 10 five-minute (or under) play breaks designed for even the busiest of us. Each one takes minimal preparation and can be done almost anywhere. And there’s a mix to appeal to a range of play styles. The only requirement? A willingness to look slightly silly and feel significantly better.

Now, let’s get it done The Playful Way…

1. The Shake Break

For those of you that love the feeling of your body in motion, put on a song that makes movement irresistible, and move like nobody's watching for one full song (or even just a minute of a song). No choreography, no judgment—just pure physical release. You can do small movements —shake out your hands, roll your shoulders, nod your head "yes" and "no"—or let the movement grow organically. Notice how you feel when you’re done.

Why it works: Physical movement immediately shifts your state, releasing tension and endorphins while breaking you out of fixed thinking patterns.

2. The Five-Sense Wonder Wander

For those that appreciate beauty and presence, take a tiny journey through your senses. Find one thing in your environment that:

• Looks beautiful or unusual

• Makes an interesting sound when tapped or moved

• Has pleasing texture

• Smells fragrant

• Tastes yummy (licking desk objects not recommended)

Why it works: This simple exercise yanks you out of your head and into your sensory experience (a foundational element of play that adults often neglect). The "Wonder Wanderer" in us comes alive in these moments of noticing.

3. Flash Expression Session

Grab whatever writing implement is closest and create a piece of art no larger than a Post-it note that expresses something about your current mood. It could be an abstract doodle, a comic of your day, or a tiny journal entry. Let your hand move freely for a few minutes without judgment.

Why it works: This exercise gives you a little chance to check in with yourself, capture, and release whatever you’re feeling in the moment. Plus, creating without purpose or judgment is like a mini getaway for your analytical brain.

4. Curiosity Quest

Look around your immediate environment and find one object that sparks a question. It could be anything: "How are candles made?" "When were scissors first invented?" "Why do pencils have hexagonal shapes?" Follow your authentic curiosity for a few minutes, either by:

• Simply wondering and letting your mind explore possible answers

• Making up the most creative (not necessarily accurate) explanation you can imagine

• Doing a quick search to learn something new

Why it works: Curiosity activates your brain's reward system, releasing dopamine and creating a natural sense of pleasure. This brief detour into wonder shifts your attention from problem-solving to possibility-seeking.

5. Ridiculous Brainstorm

Think of a small challenge you're facing (work-related or personal). Now spend five minutes coming up with the most absurd, impossible, or magical solutions you can imagine. What if I could employ fairies to edit my book for me? What if I the Power Rangers appeared *poof!* to form an all-powerful creative team to deploy on my projects? What if I could teleport to LA for the job so I didn’t have to miss my daughter’s special day at school?

Why it works: By temporarily removing all constraints, you free your mind to consider new angles that might contain seeds of actual solutions. Using our imaginations in this way helps us expand what we believe is possible.

6. Find The Funny

Think of something that felt serious or stressful today. Now spend three minutes reimagining it as a scene from a comedy. What would be the episode title? What would the laugh track emphasize? What if it was dramatized to a 10?

Why it works: Humor creates psychological distance from challenges and helps us see them in new, less threatening ways. Most of the times are less serious than they seem.

7. Routine Remix

Pick an ordinary task you'll do later today (making dinner, sending emails, folding laundry) and brainstorm a new soundtrack for the task that could transform it. A cinematic score to make spreadsheets seem epic, French music to make grocery shopping romantic, or 80s vibes to pretend you’re getting it done in a VH-1 music video. Then add the soundtrack and see what happens!

Why it works: This exercise interrupts our fixed mindset: our tendency to see activities only for their intended purpose and reminds us that we can be Mundane Alchemists, transforming the everyday with whimsy.

8. “What If…” Mental Stretch

Take a two-minute imagination journey using "What if..." as your starting point. What if your coffee cup was a portal to another world? What if your hands were paint brushes? What if today was the best day ever?

Why it works: Imagination is play for the mind, and this brief mental foray gives your brain the refreshing break it craves while stretching your capacity to envision new possibilities.

9. Draw A Song

Put on a song and see if you can draw the music — like your pen dancing along. Is the tune round or pointy? Is the beat fast or slow. Don’t worry about how it looks, just try to express the energy and notice the layers of the music as you listen.

Why it works: By translating sound into visual expression, you're creating new connections between different sensory systems and lighting up your brain’s creative networks.

10. Send A Vocal Postcard

Record a short voice memo describing something you observed or experienced today with rich detail. Challenge yourself to use new words, descriptions, or play with amping up the drama. Send it to a friend who appreciates micro moments of connection, or keep it for yourself as a time capsule of this ordinary day.

Why it works: By pausing to observe and share, you’re stretching your powers of observation and storytelling muscles and finding something of interest within a mundane day!

Which of these play breaks will you try first? Have other quick play ideas to share? Let me know in the comments!

Making Play Breaks a Habit

The beauty of five-minute play breaks is that they're small enough to fit into even the busiest schedule. To make them a regular practice…

• Link them to existing habits: AKA habit stacking. Take a play break right after your morning coffee, before lunch, when you take a bathroom break, or whenever you switch tasks.

• Set playful reminders: I have a recurring calendar notification — and a post it on my wall — that simply says "Time to play!"

• Lower the bar: The goal isn't to have the MOST FUN EVER, just to introduce a small element of novelty into your day.

• Notice the effects: Pay attention to how you feel after a play break compared to before. This natural reinforcement makes the habit more likely to stick.

Remember, dear Noomies, you don't need to wait until you have "enough time" to play. These micro-moments of playfulness can sustain your creative spirit through even the busiest seasons.

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If you’re looking for more permission to choose the playful way over the pressured way… this one’s for you: