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Length: 60 Minutes Certificate of Completion: 5 Question Quiz (Required) Overview: How often do you truly think about the recreation activities you do? Probably not a lot, right? Because your life is super busy — going to school, working, caring for your families, grocery shopping, cleaning – the list can seem endless. Who has time for recreation? But, when you do finally get a bit of free time, where you can choose what you want to do, you are most likely so tired from the day that you mindlessly plunk yourself in front of a TV or scroll through social media to give your overworked brain and body a moment to rest and decompress. How you spend your free time, however, directly influences your health and happiness. In this session, I’m going to share with you how to choose recreation activities during your free time that will maximize your health and happiness, as well as explain why protecting these small bits of time in your day, when you get to do something you enjoy, even if it is just for a few minutes, are vitally important for having a meaningful and healthy life. I know the title of this session probably has you wondering what this has to do with seashells... well, take a listen and it will become abundantly clear! Outcomes: You will learn how play & recreation contribute to learning, health, and happiness through the pathways of neuroplasticity and positive emotions; how different types of activities influence emotions and health using flow theory; and how the analogy of a seashell jar can be used to improve a person's perception of recreation for self-care and quality of life. Intended Audience: Therapists, physicians, counselors, social workers, teachers, and other health and helping professionals who are looking to improve their health and wellness (or the health and wellness of others) through recreation.