According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the concept of ‘fun’ is defined as ‘light-hearted pleasure, enjoyment or amusement’. But, while we may understand what fun is, by the time we become adults, we’ve either forgotten what it means or have had to put it on the backburner as the pressures of modern life take over.
When we’re kids, of course, fun comes easily to us. Whether it’s forward rolls and handstands in the garden or making sandcastles on the beach, we’re right in there, having fun and it just happens naturally.
But then what happens?
Yes, we become adults.
Adults who are busy with kids and growing families.
Adults who may also have elderly parents to care for.
Adults who worry about finances.
Adults who are so busy with our careers that we’re afraid to step off the daily treadmill of life.
A scary thought indeed…
Sadly, it seems as if the frantic pace of our modern lives has simply left us with little or no time to schedule in pure, unadulterated fun!
And yet fun is so good for us….
Research has shown, for example, that when we have fun with others, the experience has a positive effect on our communication skills. Similarly, studies have shown that fun is brilliant for reducing our stress levels – vitally important with today’s busy lifestyles. All in all, fun has loads of benefits – both mental and physical – for all of us.
So exactly how do you go about making time for fun?
Well, first of all you need to work out what ‘fun’ means to you! Maybe you’ll be fortunate enough to remember things that you used to love doing when you had more free time…if so, then problem solved! But if you can’t remember things that brought a smile to your face – or if you find you’ve outgrown them, then don’t panic – it’s easy enough to make a new list.
Also, you can be as experimental as you wish. If you’ve always fancied hang-gliding or sky diving, for example, then go for it. It’s great to push yourself out of your comfort zone. But remember that you don’t need to go for something so extreme….in fact, there’s plenty you can do in the comfort of your own home – baking some sweet treats, watching a comedy or even taking up a new hobby – and don’t be afraid to be silly!
If you’re really struggling with ideas, then go and hang out with some kids – either your own or borrow your nieces and nephews. Kids have absolutely no limits when it comes to having fun, so they will be able to show you how it’s done.
Make a bucket list of all the things you’ve wanted to do and all the places you’ve wanted to visit, then work your way through the list and work out how – and when – you’re going to be able to schedule the fun in! This can be tricky…especially when it’s been so long since you’ve taken the time out to timetable fun into your life, but with a little effort you’ll find that it is doable.
When it comes to fun, you really do have to take the time to schedule it in. Unfortunately, the demands of family life and career do have to take precedence over your fun activities, so it can be a delicate balancing act, but whether you schedule in half an hour a day to do something enjoyable or ‘gift’ yourself two hours one day a week, the key thing is that you’re making the effort.
So, there you go…..draw up your list, dance yourself silly and let your inner child lead the way to fun times.
As the playwright George Bernard Shaw once said, ‘We don’t stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing’.
How right he was…..
Book a place on my RISE UP Programme to learn more way to develop positive habits to help you to have fun and live a life you love!
