Are You Too Serious? Why Playfulness Is the Midlife Skill You've Been Missing

When did life get so heavy? If you can't remember the last time you did something just for the fun of it, this one's for you.In this episode, Margit and Clarkie get into something that doesn't get nearly enough airtime in the wellbeing conversation — playfulness. Not the kind that requires a holiday or a special occasion, but the everyday kind that shifts how you show up in your own life.They explore what it actually means to bring a playful attitude to ordinary moments — at work, at home, even in the hard seasons — and why it's often the first thing we abandon when life gets serious. With 4.1 million Australians treated for stress, anxiety, and depression in 2025 alone, the question of how we lighten our inner load feels more pressing than ever.This conversation is grounded, warm, and genuinely fun. It touches on everything from competitive sport to corporate culture to Ash Barty's unexpected trick for making press interviews bearable. It's the kind of conversation that makes you want to go outside and bounce a ball — or at the very least, skip to the kitchen.In This Episode, We Explore:Why playfulness is about how you do things, not just what you doWhat happens to our energy — and our performance — when we stop taking everything so seriouslyThe unexpected link between play, creativity, and genuine wellbeingHow one elite athlete reimagined her most dreaded professional ritual through the lens of playWhy humour in the workplace can be a generous act — and when it isn'tThe small, everyday invitations to be more playful that are hiding in plain sight1:46 – Now is the time to find more playfulness3:29 – Competitive sport, lawn bowls, and learning to dial it down5:26 –  Using playfulness as a way of being7:54 – Ash Barty, Disney lines, and making the unbearable bearable8:30 – Play at home, play at work — and why it keeps dropping off11:28 – Pets are the ultimate reminder to playMargit Cruice is a midlife and leadership coach who believes this chapter of life can be one of the most expansive and liberating we’ll ever live. Drawing on decades of experience, sport, travel and deep personal inquiry, she creates spaces for honest conversations about identity, ageing and becoming. Connect with Margit:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/margitcruice/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/margitcruiceLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/margitcruice/Website: https://www.margitcruice.com/ For all enquiries:Email: [email protected] Join The Joy Rebellion: https://ecc3-margit.systeme.io/joyrebel