Bringing some fun back into our lives

One of the things that we seem to be collectively missing at the moment is a lack of joy and fun. In a world of horrific events discussed every five minutes on the television, radio newspapers and social media, it’s no wonder so many people are struggling to find joy and have fun when the state of the world is as it is. As hard as it is, it is at times like these that we need to view life from a new perspective and to not let outside circumstances, the media and other people’s negative attitudes affect us in our daily lives.

As an adult, you have every right to enjoy yourself. In fact, adults need to play. As George Bernard Shaw once said, “We don’t stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.”

Back when we were children, this experience of pure delight didn’t have to come from a heightened event for us to feel like our day had been made. Pure fun happens when we are fully engaged with ourselves and our world in each moment. It is the spontaneous delight that bubbles out of us when we let go long enough to bring it through. Approach your life today with the knowledge that pure fun isn’t something that is given or done to you; rather, it is something that you allow yourself to experience.

So how then do we bring fun back into our lives?

Set the Goal of Playing More. Start by setting a goal to have more fun. When we think of setting goals we usually think of serious things, such as saving more money, eating healthier or exercising more often. However, the goal of having more fun is just as important as those more serious-sounding goals.

Define what fun looks like for you. A lot of the time adults can’t even remember what they like to do. Or maybe they’ve outgrown the things that they liked to do in the past and they haven’t gotten around to identifying new things that they enjoy. If this is you, sit down and make a list of the things that you enjoyed doing in your youth. Then, go over your list and highlight those things that still sound appealing. Google is a wonderful resource and if you are stuck for ideas try googling “fun ideas for adults”.

Set a fun minimum and put it in your schedule. Just as you tell yourself that you’re going to exercise for at least half-an-hour a day, tell yourself that you’re also going to do something fun for at least half-an-hour-a-day. It’s important to schedule it in your diary because if you don’t schedule it in it’s unlikely to happen.

Create a play drawer. In her book “Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy,” Sarah Ban Breathnach recommends creating a drawer to “stockpile small indulgences.” This drawer could contain anything that brings you joy. Popular items include colouring books for adults, board games and puzzles.

Spend time with a fun friend. Whether it is online or in-person, the people you spend time with will have an enormous impact on your life. If you need to relearn how to relax, be more spontaneous, laugh more, and simply be more willing to play, look for someone who’s already doing these things. Then, follow their lead.

We would love to hear how you are finding ways to have fun, so please share your stories with us. Most importantly, remember to never stop finding joy!