How to Use Play to Beat Burnout and Feel Like Yourself Again | Piera Gelardi
リアクション
2026年04月30日
How to Beat Burnout: Use Play to Feel Like Yourself Again | Piera Gelardi: (https://www.growingself.com/burnout-recovery-through-play/)
Burnout and stress don’t just drain energy, they drain connection.
If you’re in burnout, it can spike stress & anxiety and create real conflict & repair work at home.
And here’s the part most people miss: sometimes burnout isn’t solved by “pushing harder” or even taking a break. Sometimes it’s about play. Not childish, silly, or irresponsible play. But a playful mindset—curiosity, experimentation, levity—that changes how you experience your real life, in real time.
In this conversation, I’m joined by Piera Gelardi to talk about burnout recovery through a lens most people never consider. Piera is a creative entrepreneur, artist, and the co-founder of Refinery29 and 29Rooms, and her work is all about helping people reconnect with joy, creativity, and aliveness. Together, we explore what happens when life gets so serious, so scheduled, and so responsibility-heavy that you lose touch with the parts of yourself that feel light, open, and fully alive.
We talk about “play deprivation,” the difference between having fun and living playfully, and why recovery from burnout often has less to do with escaping your life and more to do with changing your relationship to it. You’ll hear why humor as a coping mechanism can be surprisingly healing, how playful curiosity can shift conflict, and why the quiet boredom in relationship can sometimes be a sign that something important has gone missing. This is a warm, honest conversation about stress, connection, resilience, and what helps people feel like themselves again.
We also get practical. Piera shares simple ways to bring more play into ordinary life, from finding the funny in hard moments to remixing daily routines, noticing beauty, and experimenting with small changes that make life feel less heavy. As you listen, I’d love for you to consider: What has gotten so serious lately? Where have you made joy conditional? And what might change if play was not something you earned after everything else was done, but part of how you cared for yourself all along?
Episode Breakdown:
00:00 Why Play Matters for Adults
09:08 What Play Deprivation Really Looks Like
21:21 The Different Ways Adults Experience Play
30:11 How Humor Can Help You Cope
39:13 Wonder Wandering and Everyday Joy
41:16 Playfulness in Relationships
44:46 Why Play Is Fuel, Not Frivolous
If you’re noticing that stress has taken over your mood, your relationships, or your ability to enjoy your own life, this might be a good time to get support. You can book a free consultation (https://growingself.typeform.com/connect) with me or a member of my team, and we’ll talk about what’s been feeling hard, what you want to change, and what kind of support would actually help. We’ll help you find the right counselor or coach so you can feel more grounded, more connected, and more like yourself again.
xoxo,
Dr. Lisa Marie Bobby
🌱 Visit Growing Self: https://www.growingself.com/
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/zw/podcast/love-happiness-and-success-with-dr-lisa-marie-bobby/id858864457
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4xQN0JdUqOuH5krG0VHrcE?si=29a92e9f2eb14f57
Ready to grow, heal, and create the love, happiness, and success you deserve? I’m Dr. Lisa Marie Bobby, and every week I’m here to help you become the best version of yourself. Through expert insights, real conversations, and actionable advice, we’ll explore everything from relationships and personal growth to career breakthroughs and emotional wellness. As a psychologist, marriage and family therapist, and board-certified coach, I’m on a mission to help you thrive. Subscribe and let’s create your next chapter together! 🌱
Burnout and stress don’t just drain energy, they drain connection.
If you’re in burnout, it can spike stress & anxiety and create real conflict & repair work at home.
And here’s the part most people miss: sometimes burnout isn’t solved by “pushing harder” or even taking a break. Sometimes it’s about play. Not childish, silly, or irresponsible play. But a playful mindset—curiosity, experimentation, levity—that changes how you experience your real life, in real time.
In this conversation, I’m joined by Piera Gelardi to talk about burnout recovery through a lens most people never consider. Piera is a creative entrepreneur, artist, and the co-founder of Refinery29 and 29Rooms, and her work is all about helping people reconnect with joy, creativity, and aliveness. Together, we explore what happens when life gets so serious, so scheduled, and so responsibility-heavy that you lose touch with the parts of yourself that feel light, open, and fully alive.
We talk about “play deprivation,” the difference between having fun and living playfully, and why recovery from burnout often has less to do with escaping your life and more to do with changing your relationship to it. You’ll hear why humor as a coping mechanism can be surprisingly healing, how playful curiosity can shift conflict, and why the quiet boredom in relationship can sometimes be a sign that something important has gone missing. This is a warm, honest conversation about stress, connection, resilience, and what helps people feel like themselves again.
We also get practical. Piera shares simple ways to bring more play into ordinary life, from finding the funny in hard moments to remixing daily routines, noticing beauty, and experimenting with small changes that make life feel less heavy. As you listen, I’d love for you to consider: What has gotten so serious lately? Where have you made joy conditional? And what might change if play was not something you earned after everything else was done, but part of how you cared for yourself all along?
Episode Breakdown:
00:00 Why Play Matters for Adults
09:08 What Play Deprivation Really Looks Like
21:21 The Different Ways Adults Experience Play
30:11 How Humor Can Help You Cope
39:13 Wonder Wandering and Everyday Joy
41:16 Playfulness in Relationships
44:46 Why Play Is Fuel, Not Frivolous
If you’re noticing that stress has taken over your mood, your relationships, or your ability to enjoy your own life, this might be a good time to get support. You can book a free consultation (https://growingself.typeform.com/connect) with me or a member of my team, and we’ll talk about what’s been feeling hard, what you want to change, and what kind of support would actually help. We’ll help you find the right counselor or coach so you can feel more grounded, more connected, and more like yourself again.
xoxo,
Dr. Lisa Marie Bobby
🌱 Visit Growing Self: https://www.growingself.com/
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/zw/podcast/love-happiness-and-success-with-dr-lisa-marie-bobby/id858864457
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4xQN0JdUqOuH5krG0VHrcE?si=29a92e9f2eb14f57
Ready to grow, heal, and create the love, happiness, and success you deserve? I’m Dr. Lisa Marie Bobby, and every week I’m here to help you become the best version of yourself. Through expert insights, real conversations, and actionable advice, we’ll explore everything from relationships and personal growth to career breakthroughs and emotional wellness. As a psychologist, marriage and family therapist, and board-certified coach, I’m on a mission to help you thrive. Subscribe and let’s create your next chapter together! 🌱
