Training as Play

“This is the real secret of life—to be completely engaged with what you are doing in the here and now. And instead of calling it work; realise it is play.”

— Alan Watts 

The Artificial Division Between Work and Play 

Alan Watts, the British philosopher, explored the artificial division between work and play. He observed that, in our culture, work is often seen as the “serious business” of productivity and survival, while play is dismissed as trivial or unimportant. Watts noted that this divide is more of a perspective than a reality, and that when work is approached as form of play, individuals can experience greater flow and effectiveness, in the same task. The effort and attention are still there, but the approach of a ‘forced seriousness’ is put aside.

When Training Feels Like Work

For many, training falls apart when it becomes attached to guilt or a sense of drudgery. Eventually attendance drops and the feelings are familiar: lethargy, disappointment, and the nagging thought, “I want to do this. I know I should do this. But I’m not.” Beneath this often lies a deeper question: “What’s the point?”.

Too often, people fall off track because training feels like something they should do rather than something they get to do.

This is where training becomes less of a personal project and more of a type of ‘work’. It becomes less clear why we are doing it, and the system gradually falls apart.

The truth is that you absolutely do not have to train.

Despite every valid, objective reason for health and wellbeing, physical training is an entirely optional pursuit, one that I suggest be approached as a sophisticated form of play.

Training as Serious Play 

When we think of play, we often imagine something casual or light-hearted. But play, at its best, is deliberate, disciplined, and purposeful. Consider musicians, actors, or athletes: their “play” is intense, focused, and deeply rewarding. No one watches an Olympic competition or a moving performance with indifference. Yet, we know these are games and performances, the best of which we get lost in.

This concept is about shifting the emotional background to training. This is something you choose to make part of your life, a form of gamesmanship based on developing your physicality, skill and routines of nutrition, sleep and relaxation.   

This shift in mindset does not mean training becomes casual or easy. There will still be days when getting to the gym feels challenging. But choosing to play—rather than forcing yourself to work—can mean training can become less serious, but more sincere. And sincerity, when paired with purpose, creates a powerful motivation.

Open Questions

1. If you didn’t have to train, but simply chose to, how would that shift your relationship with training and consistency?

2. What’s one skill or movement you’d love to explore in your training, simply for the joy of mastering it?