Rediscovering Play: Why Every Athlete Should Try Something New

Rediscovering Play: Why Trying New Things Makes You a Better Athlete (and a Happier Person)

As adults, we often forget how to play.

Somewhere between careers, responsibilities, training plans, and chasing goals, we convince ourselves that every workout has to have a purpose. Every mile needs to be logged. Every lift needs to increase. Every session has to move us closer to a finish line.

But what if sometimes the best thing you can do for your fitness… is simply have fun?

This week, I decided to spend some time bouldering and working on mobility. Not because it was on my training plan. Not because I needed to improve a specific race split. I did it because it looked fun.

And it was.

Bouldering forced me to think differently. Every route became a puzzle. Instead of focusing on speed or endurance, I had to slow down and figure out how to move efficiently. My grip strength was tested, my balance was challenged, and muscles I hadn’t thought about in months suddenly reminded me they existed.

Later, I spent time moving through mobility drills with a landmine. Again, there was no stopwatch and no competition. Just movement. Learning how my body works and where it can improve.

Those experiences reminded me of something we often lose as adults.

Movement is supposed to be enjoyable.

When we’re kids, we don’t exercise because we have to. We climb trees, ride bikes, race our friends, play tag, jump over logs, and explore simply because it’s fun. Without realizing it, we’re building strength, coordination, balance, confidence, and resilience.

Then adulthood arrives, and movement becomes another task to check off a list.

Variety Creates Better Athletes

One of the biggest mistakes I see is people becoming trapped in a single style of training.

Runners only run.

Lifters only lift.

Cyclists only ride.

Each activity develops incredible strengths—but it also leaves gaps.

Trying something completely different exposes those gaps in the best possible way. Climbing improves body awareness and grip strength. Yoga teaches balance and breathing. Hiking builds endurance while reconnecting you with nature. Swimming develops mobility and cardiovascular fitness with minimal impact. Martial arts improve coordination and discipline.

None of these activities take away from your primary goal. More often than not, they make you better at it.

More Than Performance

The benefits go far beyond athletic performance.

Trying something new keeps your mind engaged. It challenges your brain to solve unfamiliar problems. It reminds you what it’s like to be a beginner again.

There’s something incredibly humbling—and refreshing—about failing at something you’ve never done before.

Instead of chasing perfection, you learn to enjoy progress.

That mindset carries over into every area of life.

Your Challenge This Week

I encourage you to try something you’ve never done before.

Go climbing.

Take a dance class.

Try paddleboarding.

Learn archery.

Go kayaking.

Take your kids to the park and actually play with them instead of watching from the bench.

It doesn’t have to make you faster.

It doesn’t have to burn the most calories.

It just has to make you smile.

Because fitness shouldn’t only prepare you for race day.

It should prepare you to enjoy life.

At MV Health & Wellness, I believe health isn’t just about following the perfect program—it’s about building a lifestyle that keeps you moving for decades. Sometimes that means structured training. Other times, it means putting the watch away, trying something new, and remembering why you fell in love with movement in the first