Tell a workaholic: Play isn't just good for your health — it could make you more productive at work, Axios' Carly Mallenbaum writes.

• Why it matters: Taking play breaks can reduce stress, strengthen teamwork, and boost creativity and problem-solving.

Being in a high-pressure, serious state can put your brain into a fear mode that shuts down cognitive functioning, says Piera Gelardi, Refinery29 co-founder and author of the forthcoming book "The Playful Way" (out in April).

• "Whereas when we're in a playful state, we're in a more exploratory, open-minded, experimental place, and that's usually where solutions come from," she says.

🧩 "Play deprivation" could affect your mental health, according to Stuart Brown, clinical researcher and founder of the National Institute for Play.

Adding some play to your workday can look like:

• ✏️ Stepping away to doodle for a few minutes.
• 🎶 Listening to your favorite song — without scrolling on your phone.
• 🌳 Going for a walk to seek awe in the outdoors.

To find more opportunities to play, identify the grown-up version of the thing you loved as a kid, Gelardi says.

• If you spent hours dressing up dolls, explore your personal style now.
• If playing house made you lose track of time, people-watch and imagine their backstories.
• If you thrived on sports teams, build more movement into your day.

💭 Carly's thought bubble: My two favorite play activities are...

• Going to movement class or another kind of sober dance party.
• Running around the house with my curious, energetic toddler.

Share this story ... Different "play modes"

Finish Line reader Mark McHale sent us this picturesque winter sunset from Jonesboro, Ark.