Why We’re Choosing Play This March | Jan’s Blog

March at Merridale Cidery & Distillery is about play, and if I’m honest, this theme is deeply personal.

Over the past few years, I quietly let go of some of the things that once made me feel most alive. I stopped cooking for the joy of it. I stopped singing. I shortened the time I gave to sports I love. There were always good reasons – work, responsibility, growth. But neuroscience keeps reminding us that play isn’t a luxury once life is handled. It’s actually what helps us handle life.

Research shows that playful activity stimulates dopamine (which sharpens motivation and focus), reduces cortisol (the stress hormone that wears down our bodies over time), and strengthens the neural pathways connected to creativity and emotional regulation. Novel, joyful experiences increase neuroplasticity – the brain’s ability to adapt and stay flexible as we age. Studies on longevity consistently point to two powerful predictors of a long, healthy life: strong social bonds and reduced chronic stress. Play strengthens both.

So, I’ve started “play” again. At Christmas 2025, I sang in the Gazebo – such great fun (I hope to see more of you next year). I am also making sure I sing loudly at random times – my team is often subject to these sudden outbursts (you might want to feel a little sorry for them). Cooking didn’t feel fun at first when I returned to it, but when I gave it space, the creativity came back. To play again feels very therapeutic and good!

I share this not to preach, but because I suspect I’m not alone. How many of us quietly set aside the very things that regulate our nervous systems and spark our aliveness?

That question is exactly why we’re leaning into play this March at Merridale.

Remember hide and seek? The thrill of searching for imaginary treasure? That sense of curiosity and possibility? That’s exactly what our adult scavenger hunt is designed to do. Our farm play experience is more challenging than last year, inviting you to explore, solve, wander, and linger a little longer. It’s not just entertainment; it’s engagement. When you search, laugh, collaborate, and move through the orchard together, your brain is lighting up in all the best ways by building connection, lowering stress, and strengthening memory.

And then there’s our new cocktail class – which is really a masterclass in creative play. When you experiment with aroma, texture, flavour, and balance, you’re engaging multiple sensory pathways at once. Creativity activates the prefrontal cortex. The same region responsible for problem-solving and leadership. Playful creation isn’t separate from productivity; it enhances it.

We believe in play at Merridale. Not because it’s cute or seasonal, but because it’s good for our brains, our relationships, and quite possibly our longevity. You’ll see us weaving playful experiences into every month ahead – opportunities to gather, experiment, move, laugh, and reconnect with the parts of ourselves that don’t need to be serious all the time.

I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to look back and realize I postponed joy for someday. The science is clear. The nervous system needs play. The heart does too. So I am not waiting any longer. How about you?