{"id":101121,"date":"2023-05-07T13:42:00","date_gmt":"2023-05-07T17:42:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/?p=101121"},"modified":"2023-05-08T10:09:43","modified_gmt":"2023-05-08T14:09:43","slug":"how-to-have-fun-in-a-relationship","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/how-to-have-fun-in-a-relationship\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Have Fun in a Relationship: Embrace Playfulness"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

How do you have fun in a relationship? What are some ways to be playful with your partner?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the best ways to have a happy relationship<\/a> is to simply have fun. The book Eight Dates<\/em> says that being playful can open up many doors in your relationship, including new activities the two of you can do on dates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Check out how to have fun<\/a> in a relationship and let loose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Be Playful and Enjoy Your Relationship<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The authors believe that having fun<\/a> is key to a happy, thriving relationship<\/strong>. One of the best ways to learn how to have fun in a relationship is on a date. The goal of this date is to find out what you like to do for fun and what your partner likes to do for fun and to explore how you can have fun together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Does Fun Look Like?<\/strong>

The Power of Fun<\/em><\/a> <\/em>author Catherine Price argues that <\/em>\u201ctrue fun\u201d occurs when playfulness, connection, and flow coincide<\/a>.

She defines playfulness as the state of doing something for its own sake without seeking any specific outcome or reward; connection as the feeling of sharing a unique experience with another person or entity, leading to a sense of closeness; and flow as the mental state of being fully engaged in a present-moment task, where one becomes so absorbed that time seems to pass quickly and is forgotten. 

She explains that while the experience of any one of these factors is bound to elicit a range of positive emotions, only the combined experience of all three will give you the feeling of lightness, freedom, and energy that characterizes \u201ctrue fun.\u201d<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Humans are built to play. Play not only improves the mental health of individuals, but it strengthens relationships, building trust<\/a> and closeness between you and your partner. However, it\u2019s still common for people to sacrifice fun when they\u2019re faced with other responsibilities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Shortform note: Not only are humans built to play, but it\u2019s crucial to the way we learn<\/a>. Play helps children develop cognitive skills such as memory recall, problem-solving, decision-making<\/a>, information processing, and language development. And while we often discuss the importance of play<\/a> for children, play is equally important for adults<\/a>. Engaging in playful activities has been shown to reduce stress, boost creativity<\/a>, and enhance social connections. In fact, some studies have found that adults who engage in play have higher job satisfaction and are more productive.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Use the following questions to guide your conversation:<\/p>\n\n\n\n