In an ever faster and digital professional world, colorful bricks and cardboard puzzles invite themselves in HR policies of the largest firms. Behind this apparent playful regression takes shape a new face of well-being at work, which no longer goes only through sport or meditation. In the United States, some companies experience unexpected approaches to stimulate creativity and soothe tensions, by rehabilitating the game as a mental performance tool.
Teachers were not researchers in neuroscience, but their structured supervision was enough to produce measurable effects. Camilla Gilmore, professor at the University of Loughborough and co-author of the study, stressed the importance of these manual activities to develop the faculties of abstraction and reasoning in children, in particular those from disadvantaged backgrounds.
This approach, although designed for school, finds an unexpected echo in the business world, where mental pressures require intelligent valves.
Well-being at work also involves creativity
In an uncertain economic context, Deloitte surprised by adding Lego and puzzles to the list of expenses reimbursed in his well-being program. Up to $ 1,000 (850 euros) can be devoted to these objects each year, formerly perceived as harmless. The announcement has aroused palpable enthusiasm from some employees, who see it as an invitation to let go without feeling guilty.
This decision, revealed by Business Insider, reflects an evolution of the concept of well-being at work. It is no longer just a question of preventing exhaustion or offering a subscription to the gym, but of creating mental breathing spaces. In demanding professions like those of the Council, offering moments of cognitive escape can avoid many silent crises.
Deloitte did not officially comment on it, but the initiative resonates with a broader trend: to integrate creativity into the performance strategy.
Reconcile performance and relaxation thanks to fun activities
The benefits of the game do not stop at childhood. According to Jessica Andrews-Hanna, a psychologist at the University of Arizona, construction games like Lego encourage mental flexibility, non-linear thought and the ability to bring out filter-free ideas. These qualities are precious in a professional world which values innovation as much as rigor.
In his entrepreneurship lessons, Mark Peterson, professor at Eller College of Management, uses Lego to stimulate creative thought in her students. This type of practice could easily find its place in business training, seminars or even lunch breaks.
Far from being a simple fantasy, these manual activities allow you to enter a state of “flow”, where intense concentration is accompanied by a feeling of well-being. In times of mental overload, this balance offers an effective alternative to traditional relaxation methods.
