Everybody's working for the weekend. Thank God it's Friday. There aren't enough hours in the day! These are just some of the messages that speak to our overworked and overstressed society. But, there is a solution to the sense of overwhelm so many of us experience. That solution is making time to play.

The importance of play has been understood for centuries. In fact, Plato once said, "You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation," while Confucius noted, "It is better to play than to do nothing." Yet, as adults in today's fast-paced, downloaded, live streaming world, we often ignore the role and value of play.

That's why author, speaker, and agent for social change Kevin Carroll emphasizes in the accompanying video that play has to be present on a regular basis. Carroll explains that the role and value of play can help us face obstacles and maximize our creative genius. He notes that we need to use our active imagination like we did when we were children if we want to succeed without burning out!

There are equally important health reasons for making time to play. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), "In 2008, only one state (Colorado) had a prevalence of obesity less than 20%. Thirty-two states had a prevalence equal to or greater than 25%; six of these states (Alabama, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, and West Virginia) had a prevalence of obesity equal to or greater than 30%." And since a lack of play or physical activity is a major cause of overweight and obesity, it is clear that making time to play helps body, mind, and soul!

Whatever you have scheduled this weekend, give yourself and your loved ones the gift of play. What's more, if you do so on a regular basis, you'll feel more fulfilled and more productive in every area of your life!