A few weeks ago I saw yet another post on social media depicting the excesses from a certain professional class. There are a few real estate friends that have told me much about their profession and lifestyle. What I have learned from them has come more from their actions than what they have told me.
Having some type of playfulness involved in the workplace is not only useful for improving creativity and innovation, but it could save people from incredibly destructive behavior. The most common of which includes excessive substance abuse, spending to fill a void, and many of the other symptoms that come from unfulfilling work.
These careers are most at risk for this sort of destructive behavior, but adding more play into the profession makes it possible to ensure a completely different world.
Professions Not Known for Playfulness
1. Real Estate - As I've alluded to, there are so many people in real estate who come across as happy, but are really quite miserable. Their incessant need to continue consuming more and more makes them feel better in the moment, but at the detriment of their long-term happiness. Real estate can be a great profession in the right environment, but when highly lucrative sales contracts get in the way it can change everything.
2. Investment Banking - Yikes. Just hearing that profession sounds like a lot of money and not a lot of fun. In fact, the Wall Street Journal did a complete article detailing how bad investment banking is for peoples' health. There are horror stories of using prescription drugs and other unhealthy habits. A little play in their lives would do them all a bit of good.
3. Law Firms - The legal profession can be incredibly lacking in play, but that doesn't mean it can't exist. It's possible to be playful and it is useful for everyone involved. Judges and lawyers are notoriously unhappy sifting through legal documents that are mundane and unattractive. The clients rarely have a good taste in their mouth after anything related to the law.
Why Does This Matter?
A few years ago I had legal proceedings that took months of my time and hours upon hours. Despite my lawyer being an old-time friend, I couldn't help but feel anxious, my heart racing, every single time we spoke. Throughout the entire proceeding the mere sight of his name on the phone would send chills down my spine.
It's that anxiety and response, which comes to many people in a variety of professions. The Wall Street trader who drowns himself in illicit drugs and alcohol, the real estate agent throwing extravagant parties. In fact, a majority of all hospital visits are stress-related. They are all symptoms of a greater problem: a lack of play.
If even these archaic and sometimes ultra-serious professions can add more playful attitudes, then most everyone else can too.