{"id":1844175,"date":"2026-03-24T13:56:00","date_gmt":"2026-03-24T10:56:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1844175"},"modified":"2026-03-24T13:56:00","modified_gmt":"2026-03-24T10:56:00","slug":"funmaxxing-should-we-all-be-playing-more","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1844175","title":{"rendered":"Funmaxxing: Should we all be playing more?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/1200\/0-100-2738-1826\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1440\/2\/1442312.jpg&#8221;]<\/p>\n<article class=\"main-article standard \">\n<div class=\"article-main-content article-wrapper has-media-but-its-an-image\" data-status=\"loaded\" data-primary-article=\"true\" data-url=\"\/life-culture\/article\/69961\/1\/funmaxxing-should-we-all-be-playing-more-alysa-liu-community-games\" data-article-id=\"69961\">\n<header class=\"article-header has-landscape-image no-media\">\n<div class=\"wrapper dg-max-width\">\n<div class=\"inner\">\n<figure class=\"main-img has-figcaption\" data-img-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\" data-img-aspect-ratio=\"1.5\" data-template=\"Standard Article\"><span class=\"has-css-custom-props image-container\" data-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"GettyImages-2267046189-2\" class=\"img\" height=\"1996\" src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/1400\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1440\/2\/1442312.jpg\" width=\"3000\"><\/span><\/span><figcaption class=\"img-caption\"><span class=\"inner\"><span class=\"credit\">(Photo by Jamie <span class=\"nowrap\">Squire\/Getty Images)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<aside class=\"meta\">\n<div class=\"inner\"><time datetime=\"2026-03-24T13:56:00+00:00\" class=\"timestamp\" title=\"24 March 2026\"><span class=\"month\">March<\/span>\u00a0<br \/>\n<span class=\"day\" data-day=\"24\">24,<\/span>\u00a0<br \/>\n<span class=\"year\">2026<\/span><\/time><\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<div class=\"titles\">\n<div class=\"tags\">\n<div class=\"sections\"><a class=\"category vertical - life-culture\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/life-culture\">Life &amp; Culture<\/a><br \/>\n\/<br \/>\n<a class=\"series\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/feature\">Feature<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"standard-tag-container\"><a class=\"standard-category\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/life-culture\">Life &amp; Culture<\/a> \/<br \/>\n<a class=\"standard-series\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/feature\">Feature<\/a><\/div>\n<h1 class=\"title\"><span>Funmaxxing: Should we all be <span class=\"nowrap\">playing more?<\/span><\/span><\/h1>\n<div class=\"standfirst\">\n<h2>Many of us feel burnt out and overwhelmed by our always-on culture. Maybe the cure is making space for <span class=\"nowrap\">more fun<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<p><time datetime=\"2026-03-24T13:56:00+00:00\" class=\"timestamp\" title=\"24 March 2026\"><span class=\"month\">March<\/span>\u00a0<br \/>\n<span class=\"day\" data-day=\"24\">24,<\/span>\u00a0<br \/>\n<span class=\"year\">2026<\/span><\/time><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><time datetime=\"2026-03-24T13:56:00+00:00\" class=\"timestamp\" title=\"24 March 2026\"><span class=\"month\">March<\/span>\u00a0<br \/>\n<span class=\"day\" data-day=\"24\">24,<\/span>\u00a0<br \/>\n<span class=\"year\">2026<\/span><\/time><\/p>\n<div class=\"providers\">\n<div class=\"contributors\"><span class=\"contributor\" data-contributor-role=\"Text\"><span class=\"contributor-role\">Text<\/span><a class=\"contributor-name\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/user\/MadelynneFlack\">Madelynne Flack<\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"article-body-container\">\n<div class=\"article-body wrapper\">\n<div class=\"embed-content\" data-embed-type=\"raw-html\">\n<p><span>In August last year, a group of young Americans came together under the backdrop of a Los Angeles gym to fight their exes at an <\/span><em><span>Evil Situationship Boxing Rave<\/span><\/em><span>. The event \u2013 which was inspired by the plot of the cult film <\/span><em><span>Scott Pilgrim vs The World<\/span><\/em><span>, where the protagonist is forced to battle his girlfriend\u2019s seven evil exes \u2013 saw past-lovers go head-to-head in the ring, accompanied by a DJ and live commentary. The ethos behind it? Turning an exercise around emotional avoidance into <\/span>play<span>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>This is just one of many gatherings that <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/grownkid.com\/\"><span>Grown Kid,<\/span><\/a> an organisation designed to make <span>\u2018<\/span><span>young adulthood less lonely through community and play\u2019,<\/span><span> has hosted over the past few years (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/life-culture\/article\/69689\/1\/singles-wrestling-alternative-to-dating-apps-hinge-brooklyn-grownkid\"><span>in one of their more recent editions, they put on a speed-dating wrestling night for singles in Brooklyn)<\/span><\/a><span>. Founded off the back of a youth loneliness crisis, <\/span><span>the New York-based group is on a mission<\/span><span> to help adults to combat \u2018doomerism\u2019 through play. There\u2019s something \u201cinherently silly\u201d about the events they put on, according to the community\u2019s founder, Gael Aitor, which apparently makes it easier for people to \u201cplay into the bit\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>\u201cReally, they\u2019re about teaching life and social skills. The \u2018wrestling speed-dating event\u2019 is an event about consent and mutual consent. Our \u2018fight against your evil-situationship\u2019 rave is about healthy communication,\u201d he explains. \u201cWe believe that play is transformative; it unlocks confidence. Confidence enables care and care sustains community.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"embed-content\" data-embed-type=\"media-tiktok\" data-id=\"7610526613297433887\">\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"embed-content\" data-embed-type=\"raw-html\">\n<p><span>Grown Kid isn\u2019t the only platform centering play in their ethos. <\/span><span>In fact, over recent years, many of us have taken steps to try to reinforce a relationship with play into our lives: many of us are<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.glamourmagazine.co.uk\/article\/rediscovering-play-as-adult\"><span> rediscovering our childhood hobbies<\/span><\/a><span>, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/wwd.com\/business-news\/business-features\/spotify-culture-next-gen-z-in-person-experiences-1236673797\/\"><span>Gen Z are increasingly looking for authentic, in-person experiences<\/span><\/a><span>, and community groups are continuing to pop up at a breakneck rate.<\/span><span> We\u2019ve seen terms like<\/span><em><span> funmaxxing \u2013\u00a0<\/span><\/em><span>a mindset prioritising enjoyment and whimsy over an obsessive, result-driven approach \u2013 <\/span><span>enter our lexicon. And, just one month ago, the internet became enamoured with Alysa Liu, the two-time Olympic gold winning figure skater, who rose to social-media stardom for her playful attitude towards her sport.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>\u201cPlay is a <\/span><span>natural drive, biologically hardwired into the most ancient part of our brain,\u201d says Mia Sundstrom, the CEO of <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/nifplay.org\/\"><span>The National Institute of Play<\/span><\/a><span>, who likens the phenomena to \u201coxygen\u201d in its vitality. An importance that\u2019s been echoed in both culture and in science. Research shows that play can even be <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/europeanjournalofhumour.org\/index.php\/ejhr\/article\/view\/Rene%20Proyer\/Rene%20Proyer\"><span>just as beneficial for adults as it can be for children<\/span><\/a><span>; it can help us <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tandfonline.com\/doi\/full\/10.1080\/01490400.2013.761905#d1e245\"><span>cope with stress<\/span><\/a><span>, make us more<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tandfonline.com\/doi\/abs\/10.18666\/jlr-2016-v48-i3-6256\"><span> resilient when facing hardships<\/span><\/a><span>, and is also an essential part of our development well past childhood.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>\u201cPlay helps us produce this healthy neuroplasticity, which is what makes our brains more able to adapt and reorganise over time regardless of our age,\u201d continues Sundstrom. \u201cIt also helps to support mechanisms that we need to fight off mental health challenges. When we don\u2019t play we\u2019re more susceptible to those maladaptive pathways, feelings like anxiety loop.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"embed-content\" data-embed-type=\"raw-html\">\n<blockquote>\n<p><span>We\u2019ve replaced a lot of \u2018free play\u2019 and \u2018unstructured play\u2019 with scrolling time, which is <\/span><em><span>not<\/span><\/em><span> play<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"instagram-container embed-content\" data-embed-type=\"media-instagram\" data-script-depends=\"instagram-embeds\">\n<script async src=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"embed-content\" data-embed-type=\"raw-html\">\n<p><span>It\u2019s no secret that since the pandemic, young people have been more conscious of how they spend their time, with many of them eager to trade screens for face-to-face connection. But, a difference in the way we socialise \u2013 with an increasing amount of Gen Z exploring sobriety \u2013 has pushed those who want to play to pursue alternative communities. \u201cWe talk about escapism a lot, and it\u2019s funny that interacting in real life has now become a way to escape from social media,\u201d says Yusuf Ntahilaja, the founder of London-based chess and music community <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/knightclubchess\/?hl=en-gb\">Knight Club.<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Knight Club began in 2023, with the intention of creating a space where people could \u201ctake a break from the mundane\u201d without being at home or at work. \u201c<\/span><span>In this new age, escapism actually means putting your phone down and spending time with people. They become more interested in finding spaces like this where it\u2019s a more relaxed way to meet people,\u201d Ntahilaja says.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Yet, as demand for these community spaces rises, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vogue.com\/article\/from-sauna-socials-to-run-clubs-are-community-event-leaders-the-new-influencers\"><span>so does the risk of their becoming commodified<\/span><\/a><span>. Among an ever-expanding sea of run clubs, literary salons and social saunas, it\u2019s no surprise that online brands are tapping into community-led events to grow their businesses and make an easy buck. In this context, play becomes a privilege reserved for those of us with time and money.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"embed-content\" data-embed-type=\"raw-html\">\n<blockquote>\n<p><span>It\u2019s one of our greatest performance enhancing tools. <\/span><span>When we spend time in a play state we are fully present with what we\u2019re doing<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"embed-content\" data-embed-type=\"raw-html\">\n<p><span>For those from LGBTQ+ communities, this commodification just makes an already sparse pool of accessible safe spaces even smaller. Sandy Chuchucha, the founder of<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sanuradance.com\/\"><span>Sanura Dance,<\/span><\/a><span> a FLINTA dance school based in South London, says she is constantly trying to make her club more accessible. \u201cLondon makes [being accessible] very difficult because it\u2019s impossible to [live] in Zone 1. You need to have connections,<\/span><span>\u201d she says.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>These systemic play barriers become more pronounced as we move further into adulthood. \u201cNot everyone has equal access to play,\u201d continues Sundstrom. \u201cIf someone is financially strapped or in a marginalised community, they have fewer means to play.\u201d She adds that many of us \u2013 almost all of us \u2013 are finding it hard to play given the amount of time we spend glued to our phones. \u201cThere are also time barriers to play because of the distractions we\u2019re facing with technology. We\u2019ve replaced a lot of \u2018free play\u2019 and \u2018unstructured play\u2019 with scrolling time, which is <\/span><em><span>not<\/span><\/em><span> play.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Perhaps, to feel its benefits, we must begin to pursue play outside of the structures society imposes on us. There are myriad mental health benefits to playing, and as in the case of Alysa Liu, it can even help us achieve success. \u201c<\/span><span>It\u2019s one of our greatest performance-enhancing tools,\u201d adds Sundstrom. <\/span><span>\u201c<\/span><span>When we spend time in a play state, we are fully present with what we\u2019re doing. We are fully in tune with our brain and body.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"newsletter-inline-last\">\n<div class=\"newsletter-small\">\n<div class=\"inner\">\n<h1 class=\"newsletter-title\">Escape the algorithm! Get The Drop<\/h1>\n<div class=\"meta-row\">\n<p class=\"meta\">Get must-see stories direct to your inbox every weekday.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/privacy-policy\" class=\"meta-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><br \/>\nPrivacy policy<br \/>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"confirmation\" aria-live=\"polite\">\n<p class=\"confirmation-title\">Thank you. 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class=\"card-latest__img-wrapper\"><span class=\"image-container\" data-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Screenshot 2026-01-26 at 18.20.11\" src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/480\/0-88-2031-1351\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1440\/1\/1441331.png\"><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"card-latest__content\">\n<h3 class=\"card-latest__title\">Lost Property: A lecture series for \u2018thinkers, artists, lovers and friends\u2019<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a><a class=\"card-latest\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/life-culture\/article\/69863\/1\/ai-pressure-to-become-an-irreplaceable-worker-myth-chatgpt-claude\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"card-latest__img-wrapper\"><span class=\"image-container\" data-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"No Other Choice (2025)\" src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/480\/0-352-1452-966\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1440\/1\/1441138.png\"><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"card-latest__content\">\n<h3 class=\"card-latest__title\">AI isn\u2019t replacing workers \u2013 it\u2019s making them compete<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"newsletter-inline\" data-newsletter hidden>\n<div class=\"newsletter-small\">\n<div class=\"inner\">\n<h1 class=\"newsletter-title\">Escape the algorithm! Get The Drop<\/h1>\n<div class=\"meta-row\">\n<p class=\"meta\">Get must-see stories direct to your inbox every weekday.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/privacy-policy\" class=\"meta-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><br \/>\nPrivacy policy<br \/>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"confirmation\" aria-live=\"polite\">\n<p class=\"confirmation-title\">Thank you. You have been subscribed<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/privacy-policy\" class=\"meta-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><br \/>\nPrivacy policy<br \/>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<div class=\"article-body wrapper\">\n<div class=\"embed-content\" data-embed-type=\"raw-html\">\n<p><span>In August last year, a group of young Americans came together under the backdrop of a Los Angeles gym to fight their exes at an <\/span><em><span>Evil Situationship Boxing Rave<\/span><\/em><span>. The event \u2013 which was inspired by the plot of the cult film <\/span><em><span>Scott Pilgrim vs The World<\/span><\/em><span>, where the protagonist is forced to battle his girlfriend\u2019s seven evil exes \u2013 saw past-lovers go head-to-head in the ring, accompanied by a DJ and live commentary. The ethos behind it? Turning an exercise around emotional avoidance into <\/span>play<span>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>This is just one of many gatherings that <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/grownkid.com\/\"><span>Grown Kid,<\/span><\/a> an organisation designed to make <span>\u2018<\/span><span>young adulthood less lonely through community and play\u2019,<\/span><span> has hosted over the past few years (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/life-culture\/article\/69689\/1\/singles-wrestling-alternative-to-dating-apps-hinge-brooklyn-grownkid\"><span>in one of their more recent editions, they put on a speed-dating wrestling night for singles in Brooklyn)<\/span><\/a><span>. Founded off the back of a youth loneliness crisis, <\/span><span>the New York-based group is on a mission<\/span><span> to help adults to combat \u2018doomerism\u2019 through play. There\u2019s something \u201cinherently silly\u201d about the events they put on, according to the community\u2019s founder, Gael Aitor, which apparently makes it easier for people to \u201cplay into the bit\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>\u201cReally, they\u2019re about teaching life and social skills. The \u2018wrestling speed-dating event\u2019 is an event about consent and mutual consent. Our \u2018fight against your evil-situationship\u2019 rave is about healthy communication,\u201d he explains. \u201cWe believe that play is transformative; it unlocks confidence. Confidence enables care and care sustains community.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"embed-content\" data-embed-type=\"media-tiktok\" data-id=\"7610526613297433887\">\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"embed-content\" data-embed-type=\"raw-html\">\n<p><span>Grown Kid isn\u2019t the only platform centering play in their ethos. <\/span><span>In fact, over recent years, many of us have taken steps to try to reinforce a relationship with play into our lives: many of us are<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.glamourmagazine.co.uk\/article\/rediscovering-play-as-adult\"><span> rediscovering our childhood hobbies<\/span><\/a><span>, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/wwd.com\/business-news\/business-features\/spotify-culture-next-gen-z-in-person-experiences-1236673797\/\"><span>Gen Z are increasingly looking for authentic, in-person experiences<\/span><\/a><span>, and community groups are continuing to pop up at a breakneck rate.<\/span><span> We\u2019ve seen terms like<\/span><em><span> funmaxxing \u2013\u00a0<\/span><\/em><span>a mindset prioritising enjoyment and whimsy over an obsessive, result-driven approach \u2013 <\/span><span>enter our lexicon. And, just one month ago, the internet became enamoured with Alysa Liu, the two-time Olympic gold winning figure skater, who rose to social-media stardom for her playful attitude towards her sport.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>\u201cPlay is a <\/span><span>natural drive, biologically hardwired into the most ancient part of our brain,\u201d says Mia Sundstrom, the CEO of <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/nifplay.org\/\"><span>The National Institute of Play<\/span><\/a><span>, who likens the phenomena to \u201coxygen\u201d in its vitality. An importance that\u2019s been echoed in both culture and in science. Research shows that play can even be <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/europeanjournalofhumour.org\/index.php\/ejhr\/article\/view\/Rene%20Proyer\/Rene%20Proyer\"><span>just as beneficial for adults as it can be for children<\/span><\/a><span>; it can help us <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tandfonline.com\/doi\/full\/10.1080\/01490400.2013.761905#d1e245\"><span>cope with stress<\/span><\/a><span>, make us more<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tandfonline.com\/doi\/abs\/10.18666\/jlr-2016-v48-i3-6256\"><span> resilient when facing hardships<\/span><\/a><span>, and is also an essential part of our development well past childhood.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>\u201cPlay helps us produce this healthy neuroplasticity, which is what makes our brains more able to adapt and reorganise over time regardless of our age,\u201d continues Sundstrom. \u201cIt also helps to support mechanisms that we need to fight off mental health challenges. When we don\u2019t play we\u2019re more susceptible to those maladaptive pathways, feelings like anxiety loop.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"embed-content\" data-embed-type=\"raw-html\">\n<blockquote>\n<p><span>We\u2019ve replaced a lot of \u2018free play\u2019 and \u2018unstructured play\u2019 with scrolling time, which is <\/span><em><span>not<\/span><\/em><span> play<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"instagram-container embed-content\" data-embed-type=\"media-instagram\" data-script-depends=\"instagram-embeds\">\n<script async src=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"embed-content\" data-embed-type=\"raw-html\">\n<p><span>It\u2019s no secret that since the pandemic, young people have been more conscious of how they spend their time, with many of them eager to trade screens for face-to-face connection. But, a difference in the way we socialise \u2013 with an increasing amount of Gen Z exploring sobriety \u2013 has pushed those who want to play to pursue alternative communities. \u201cWe talk about escapism a lot, and it\u2019s funny that interacting in real life has now become a way to escape from social media,\u201d says Yusuf Ntahilaja, the founder of London-based chess and music community <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/knightclubchess\/?hl=en-gb\">Knight Club.<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Knight Club began in 2023, with the intention of creating a space where people could \u201ctake a break from the mundane\u201d without being at home or at work. \u201c<\/span><span>In this new age, escapism actually means putting your phone down and spending time with people. They become more interested in finding spaces like this where it\u2019s a more relaxed way to meet people,\u201d Ntahilaja says.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Yet, as demand for these community spaces rises, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vogue.com\/article\/from-sauna-socials-to-run-clubs-are-community-event-leaders-the-new-influencers\"><span>so does the risk of their becoming commodified<\/span><\/a><span>. Among an ever-expanding sea of run clubs, literary salons and social saunas, it\u2019s no surprise that online brands are tapping into community-led events to grow their businesses and make an easy buck. In this context, play becomes a privilege reserved for those of us with time and money.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"embed-content\" data-embed-type=\"raw-html\">\n<blockquote>\n<p><span>It\u2019s one of our greatest performance enhancing tools. <\/span><span>When we spend time in a play state we are fully present with what we\u2019re doing<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"embed-content\" data-embed-type=\"raw-html\">\n<p><span>For those from LGBTQ+ communities, this commodification just makes an already sparse pool of accessible safe spaces even smaller. Sandy Chuchucha, the founder of<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sanuradance.com\/\"><span>Sanura Dance,<\/span><\/a><span> a FLINTA dance school based in South London, says she is constantly trying to make her club more accessible. \u201cLondon makes [being accessible] very difficult because it\u2019s impossible to [live] in Zone 1. You need to have connections,<\/span><span>\u201d she says.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>These systemic play barriers become more pronounced as we move further into adulthood. \u201cNot everyone has equal access to play,\u201d continues Sundstrom. \u201cIf someone is financially strapped or in a marginalised community, they have fewer means to play.\u201d She adds that many of us \u2013 almost all of us \u2013 are finding it hard to play given the amount of time we spend glued to our phones. \u201cThere are also time barriers to play because of the distractions we\u2019re facing with technology. We\u2019ve replaced a lot of \u2018free play\u2019 and \u2018unstructured play\u2019 with scrolling time, which is <\/span><em><span>not<\/span><\/em><span> play.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Perhaps, to feel its benefits, we must begin to pursue play outside of the structures society imposes on us. There are myriad mental health benefits to playing, and as in the case of Alysa Liu, it can even help us achieve success. \u201c<\/span><span>It\u2019s one of our greatest performance-enhancing tools,\u201d adds Sundstrom. <\/span><span>\u201c<\/span><span>When we spend time in a play state, we are fully present with what we\u2019re doing. We are fully in tune with our brain and body.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"newsletter-inline-last\">\n<div class=\"newsletter-small\">\n<div class=\"inner\">\n<h1 class=\"newsletter-title\">Escape the algorithm! Get The Drop<\/h1>\n<div class=\"meta-row\">\n<p class=\"meta\">Get must-see stories direct to your inbox every weekday.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/privacy-policy\" class=\"meta-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><br \/>\nPrivacy policy<br \/>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"confirmation\" aria-live=\"polite\">\n<p class=\"confirmation-title\">Thank you. You have been subscribed<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/privacy-policy\" class=\"meta-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><br \/>\nPrivacy policy<br \/>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>[analyse_source url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/life-culture\/article\/69961\/1\/funmaxxing-should-we-all-be-playing-more-alysa-liu-community-games&#8221;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/1200\/0-100-2738-1826\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1440\/2\/1442312.jpg&#8221;] (Photo by Jamie Squire\/Getty Images) March\u00a0 24,\u00a0 2026 Life &amp; Culture \/ Feature Life &amp; Culture \/ Feature Funmaxxing: Should we all be playing more? Many of us feel burnt out and overwhelmed by our always-on culture. Maybe the cure is making space for more fun March\u00a0 24,\u00a0 2026 March\u00a0 24,\u00a0 2026 [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[226,76],"class_list":["post-1844175","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-politics","tag-crawlmanager","tag-dazeddigital-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1844175","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1844175"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1844175\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1844175"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1844175"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1844175"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}