When battling burnout or even something as serious as anxiety or depression, constantly seeking ways to fix yourself might not be the best strategy. Taking care of yourself by having fun can help retrain your brain, improve your mental health, make you more productive and it might even help you to become an inspiration to others.

Discover comedienne and vegan cooking instructor Megan Sadd’s strategy for how to focus on joy. In her battle with depression, Megan turned down good money and set off on an adventure she calls the #30dayfunchallenge that’s been going viral. Consider this your invitation – your challenge – to join in the fun.

Join the #30dayfunchallenge!

• The Official Rules of the #30dayfunchallenge
• Participate on Facebook
• Participate on Instagram
• See the fun you'll be joining in on

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• How the success-first mindset can be poisonous
• The journey that led Megan to create the #30dayfunchallenge
• That anxiety and depression don’t have to become your prison
• How bringing fun even to the mundane chores of life can lead to bolder expressions of fun and joy
• How documenting your commitment to start incorporating play in your life helps you move from a burned out workaholic to an inspiration to others
• That having a supportive community – even one online – can help you keep your commitment to making change a priority
• How when we think we’re living for others selflessly, we’re more likely living for the validation of others – but letting yourself be “selfish” by letting yourself play can make you a better person with more to give to the world
• Read Megan's blog post: "I Quit Using Anti-Depressants and My Life Has Never Been Better"
• Watch Charlie Hoehn’s TEDx talk, The Power of Play

Let the memories of how you played as a child become a guide for the decisions you make as an adult. What made you excited to get out of bed when you were a little kid? Staying true to the vision of what inspired us as children can help us get perspective on the pressures we place on ourselves in the never ending quest for stability and prosperity. Hear from tech entrepreneur and artist Meg Athavale (a.k.a. Meg Rabbit) as she shares her story and advice about how letting yourself play can lead to to a life of fulfillment and adventure.

Listen online by clicking the play button below or >>Subscribe on iTunes<<

In this episode, you'll hear:

• How a young entrepreneur found her way personally and professionally by making play a priority
• The importance of community in finding play and fulfillment
• How she made an awesome interactive toy that helps kids use their imaginations and learn
• Play and our relationship with TV
• The Rat Park study - How liberating ourselves from the grind can lead us out of addiction – Check out Stuart McMillen’s Story of Rat Park.

Meet Meg Athavale at MegRabbit.com.
Follow her on Twitter: @meghanrabbit

On this very first episode of The PlayGrounding Podcast, I'll take a moment to introduce myself and tell you why I'm investing so much in the concept of play. You'll hear:

• What it's meant to me, as an adult, to learn how to play again
• Why it can be hard for us adults to play
• How stumbling into a playful community changed my life
• What I want you to get out of this podcast
• How you can participate and be on the show

Show Notes:

• TED Radio Hour's "Press Play" episode

It's one thing to know how important it is to play and another to work it into a busy schedule. Hear how Audrey "Mourning" Wood took on boredom. She's been a member of the L.A. Derby Dolls Sirens team since 2011 and was a member of All Stars from 2012-2015. She's a derby trainer and has been head trainer, captain of the Sirens and co-captain of All Stars. And this is only one of the many things she does "just" for fun.

I invited her onto the show because we need to hear that people like Audrey face the same challenges so many of us do, but she's managed to take purposeful, conscious steps into new and sometimes scary territory to find fun and meaning in life. So, for those of us who regularly stay late at work and collapse in a heap in front of Netflix the moment we get home, Audrey has advice on how to not only find and create community and fun outside of work, but how to have the energy to enjoy it.

In this episode, you'll hear about:

• How to be purposeful about how you spend your time instead of reactive
• Getting over the fear of being the instigator of fun
• How Audrey uses the Self Journal to set goals and keep them
• How reaching health and fitness goals give you the energy to enjoy life (energy you might not have right now)
• What feeling accomplished outside of paid work can do for your energy levels
• How you can get involved in roller derby in your area, including the L.A. Derby Dolls!