Rediscovering the Joy of Playing in the Woods

We’ve Gone Full Circle: Rediscovering the Joy of Playing in the Woods

Life has a funny way of bringing us back to where we started. At six years old, the world feels limitless.

Mud squelching underfoot, the excitement of spotting a bug on a leaf, and the pride of crafting something with our hands—it’s all pure, unfiltered joy.

But somewhere along the way, we trade the woods for offices, the bugs for paychecks, and the mud for mortgages.

Then, after a little bit of life factoring and one day, we wake up at 40 something and realise what we really want is to go back to playing in the woods.

Why does this happen?

What is it about the simplicity of childhood experiences that becomes so desirable in adulthood?

The Drift from Joy

For a lot of people, the shift from teenage years, shifts…

Society tells us to “grow up,” and that means achieving milestones—degrees, careers, houses. These are important, of course, but they often come at the cost of something else: play.

You can buy a gym membership, or sign up for some crazy challenges or whatever your thing is, but we are sort of told that playing is for kids, that our time should be spent on things that are “productive.”

So we swap sticks for spreadsheets and curiosity for KPIs.

But there’s a cost to this transition. By prioritising achievement over joy, we lose touch with the things that once made us feel alive. The woods are replaced by concrete jungles, and the bugs? Well, we’re too busy to notice them. The very things that help our world go round.

The Return to Play

By the time we hit our 40’s (or perhaps earlier, if we’re lucky), something shifts.

The career ladder doesn’t seem so important anymore, for some. The shiny house loses its appeal. And suddenly, we’re yearning for the woods again. This isn’t regression; it’s rediscovery. We want to play.

Playing in the woods isn’t just about nostalgia.

It’s about reconnecting with the part of ourselves that we left behind. It’s about curiosity, creativity, and the freedom to get messy.

I’ve written about this before: studies show that spending time in nature reduces stress, boosts creativity, and even improves mental health.

Maybe six-year-old you knew something 21-year-old you forgot: life is better when it’s a little muddy.

So how do we reconcile this? How do we honour the ambitions of 21-year-old us while also making room for the mud-loving six-year-old?

Prioritize Play: Set aside time for activities that spark joy. Build a birdhouse, plant a flower, or simply wander without a goal. Or, just get outside with no agenda and go play.

The Full Circle with Forest School

This shift isn’t just a personal journey; it’s a cultural one.

Movements like forest schools, outdoor education, and nature therapy are gaining traction because people are realising the value of reconnecting with the natural world. And, aside from perhaps signing up for a course to learn some new skills, the outdoors is free.

So, if you find yourself at any age wanting to play in the woods again, don’t feel guilty. Feel grateful. You’ve come full circle. You’ve learned that the best things in life aren’t achievements—they’re experiences. They’re the bugs, the mud, and the joy of making something with your own two hands.

Because maybe the six-year-old you was right all along.

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