When’s the last time you thought about recess? Those carefree minutes filled with laughter, play, and movement might just hold the secret to better health and a happier life. In this episode of 1,000 Waking Minutes, Dr. Wendy Bazilian shares why bringing back the joy of play is essential—not just for kids, but for adults, too.
With personal stories and research-backed insights, this episode explores how to take the “work” out of workouts and rediscover movement as an act of fun. Whether you’re swinging at the park, dancing in your kitchen, or simply embracing the lighter side of life, it’s time to bring back recess and reap the benefits.
FROM THE EPISODE“Somewhere along the way many of us lost the sense of play in that free-spirited way, that release of unstructured playtime. As adults we have replaced recess with routine and we've swapped playtime for productivity.”
WE DISCUSS:(1:22) Introduction: Reflecting on the magic of recess
(4:17) Personal stories: Volunteering at PE and lessons from Brazil
(14:51) ROI of play: Health benefits and the science of movement
(18:56) A Mindful Minute: Reconnecting with recess
(22:27) Practical tips to make play a part of your day
(31:33) Reflective questions
(32:56) Recap and final thoughts: Let’s rediscover recess together
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Visit my website: wendybazilian.com
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Thank you for tuning in to 1,000 Waking Minutes and being part of this journey–together. A huge thank you to our amazing collaborators including our production and marketing teams and Gabriela Escalante in particular. To the ultra-talented Beza for my theme music, my lifelong friend and artist Pearl Preis Photography and Design, to Danielle Ballantyne, Jen Nguyen, Joanna Powell, and of course, my family and everyone working tirelessly behind the scenes.
HEALTH DISCLAIMER:The information shared in this podcast is for educational purposes only and should not be considered individual medical or health advice. Always consult with your trusted healthcare provider before making any changes to your diet, exercise, or medical treatment.
REFERENCES:
Hötting, K., & Röder, B. (2013). Beneficial effects of physical exercise on neuroplasticity and cognition. Neuroscience and biobehavioral reviews, 37(9 Pt B), 2243–2257. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2013.04.005
Koch, S., et al. (2019). Effects of dance movement therapy and dance on health-related psychological outcomes: A meta-analysis. Frontiers in Psychology, 10, 1806. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.01806
Loprinzi, P. D. (2015, August). Accumulated short bouts of physical activity are associated with reduced premature all-cause mortality: implications for physician promotion of physical activity and revision of current US government physical activity guidelines. In Mayo Clinic Proceedings (Vol. 90, No. 8, pp. 1168-1169). Elsevier.
Proyer, R. T. (2013). The well-being of playful adults: Adult playfulness, subjective well-being, physical well-being, and the pursuit of enjoyable activities. European Journal of...
