Take reality lightly This is the definition of the play attitude given in 1794 by Friedrich von Schiller, author of the Ode to Joy. This doesn't mean living a fantasy. It means striving to see everything in your life as potentially changeable, rather than grimly determined

Have children, or be around them Kids today are thriving in an environment of speed, interactivity and cultural change that their elders never imagined. Respect their strivings, and learn from their playful energies

Play the Lottery It's healthy to sample some of the extreme forms that play can take. Gambling is about allowing the gods of chance to play with you

Take this job and rise above it Confucius said that "the man who finds a job he loves never works another day in his life". If you haven't found it yet, at least keep imagining that productive and creative future you want for yourself

Build your networks Use the internet to connect to people who are passionately interested in specific things that are relevant to your life-journey

Never pass up the chance to experience something crazy or challenging It's a big globalised world out there - and the more you can play with your basic terms of reference, the better prepared you'll be for the next big shift or change in society. Try a new religion or theory, or perhaps take up an unusual sport

Become wireless What the town square and the shop floor were to the worker, so the broadband terminal and the wireless hotspot are to the player - both open spaces which enable people to connect and commune. The web is your global playground - use it

Be an unashamed amateur Amateur means "doing something for the love of it". That childish moment of "playing around" is an essential energy source for us - and we downgrade it at our peril. Esteem your hobbies: be a Jack of all the trades you'd like to try

Extend the playground Support campaigns, parties and politicians that look at reducing working hours, extending parental and sabbatical leave, supplying free grants for education and the arts

Attend to your resources Play creates energy, but it also requires it. So burn off as much as you ingest; laugh and flirt and have as much sex as you can. And that's an order.

Copyright 2004 Independent Newspapers UK Limited
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