211. Is Productivity Ruining Our Mental Health? Why We Need More Play (Piera Gelardi)
About this episode
Dr. Alison Cook and Piera Gelardi discuss the importance of playfulness for mental health and emotional well-being.
When did being a responsible adult become synonymous with being serious all the time? Somewhere along the way, many of us learned that curiosity, playfulness, imagination, and wonder were things we needed to leave behind in order to grow up. But what if those qualities aren't distractions from a meaningful life? What if they're essential to it? In this episode, Dr. Alison Cook sits down with entrepreneur, creative visionary, and author Piera Gelardi to explore why playfulness is far more than a luxury—it's a powerful source of resilience, creativity, connection, and emotional well-being. Together, they unpack how stress, perfectionism, and the pressure to "have it all together" disconnect us from our authentic selves, and how reclaiming play can help us feel more alive. You'll learn: Why playfulness is a sign of emotional health How stress, perfectionism, and the "cool police" rob us of joy The surprising connection between play and resilience How to move from a pressured state into a playful state Practical ways to reconnect with curiosity, wonder, and creativity Why childlike qualities may actually be your greatest strengths This conversation is an invitation to loosen your…
People in this episode
Host: Dr. Alison Cook
Guest: Piera Gelardi
Topics covered
- productivity
- mental health
- playfulness
- resilience
- creativity
- emotional well-being
Keywords
- productivity
- mental health
- play
- resilience
- creativity
- emotional well-being
- stress
- perfectionism
Mentioned in this episode
Books & works: The Playful Way: Creativity, Connection, and Joy Through Everyday Moments of Play, The Secure Soul
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