As the founders of Make Believe Works, we were both heartened and saddened to read the recent article in The Washington Post about the growing public health crisis of loneliness. Heartened, because we know that our business can play an important role in addressing this issue, and saddened because we know firsthand how painful and isolating loneliness can be.

It’s an odd time in the world of work. On the one hand, some companies are focused on retaining talent in the midst of the “Great Resignation” (1 in 5 workers plan to quit their jobs in 2022, according to one of the largest surveys of the global workforce. Over two-thirds say they are seeking more fulfillment in the workplace). At the same time we’re also seeing mass layoffs and hiring freezes (especially in the tech world) in anticipation of an economic downturn. But regardless of which end of the spectrum your company is on, there’s an element you can bring in that will make a difference: Play.

When it comes to careers and companies, we’re accustomed to draining all the color out of the experience and looking at hard cold facts - not warm fuzzy feelings. We want to be taken seriously, so we take work seriously. The idea of taking joy seriously is hard for many people to wrap their heads around, because you risk looking frivolous, flaky, immature. You risk that awful feeling of being judged. But what I’ve seen is that embracing joy leads to exactly the sort of life and achievements worth admiring.

We were planning a playful, creative workshop for 16 strangers hoping to refuel, reflect, and reconnect. Then war broke out. As we took in the news from Ukraine, feelings of helplessness and futility compounded with two pandemic years of isolation and hopelessness and we asked ourselves, “What’s the point of play in a moment like this?” We sat down and talked about canceling. But as we discussed it, we actually came to the opposite conclusion: that this was exactly the time for something like this.

Here’s why we came to that conclusion, and how we used imagination and play to fuel our way back to meaningful connection, community, and hope.

Made tons of new friends at work, lately? Not so much? You’re not alone in feeling alone. Two remote years of only seeing each other on purpose, for a purpose, has cost us those informal interactions–like waiting for an elevator or walking the halls together–that do a surprising amount to strengthen social bonds. An article in the NY Times last year found that even the most introverted among us are missing that sense of connection and belonging that community naturally cultivates. That sense of belonging nourishes unexpected benefits as well, like encouraging creative risks, enhancing adaptability in the face of change, and just making us happier.