Do you live a lackluster life? What if you could attract more fun into your life? Where should you start?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For many of us, as we get older, fun starts to take a backseat to the neverending list of adult responsibilities. But, it doesn’t have to be that way. Catherine Price shows you how to make time for fun<\/a>, find your passions, become a fun person<\/a>, push boundaries, and stay committed to having fun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Continue reading to learn how to have fun in life<\/a> with Price’s five recommendations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n Price explains that you don\u2019t just start having more fun because you\u2019ve decided to: You also need to create the conditions that are conducive to fun. Price shares her advice on how to have fun<\/a> in life. She recommends following these five steps: Make time, find your passions, invite fun, push boundaries, and stay committed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you’re going to prioritize fun, you need to make space for it to happen. The first step in making time is to give yourself permission to have fun<\/strong>. Many of us have been socialized to think of fun as self-indulgent or unproductive; we are convinced that our time would be better spent in more serious (often work-related) pursuits. But Price reiterates that fun isn’t at odds with being a hard worker or making the world a better place<\/a>. In fact, she adds, fun might actually support you to do these things better by helping you feel more energized, inspired, and creative.<\/p>\n\n\n\n After you give yourself permission to have fun, think about how you can free up time in your day for fun<\/strong>. This might mean focusing on your high-impact tasks at work, saying no<\/a> to obligations that aren\u2019t necessary or fun, and setting boundaries<\/a> with your phone and other devices. When you don\u2019t fill your day with busy work, unnecessary obligations, or screens, you might be surprised at how much time you get back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You might need some help making time for fun. If you’re a parent or in a relationship, ask your family for support<\/strong>. Have a conversation with your partner about how you’re sharing the burden of the mental and emotional labor of your household. Then carve out space for each of you to have independent fun every week. This will create a virtuous cycle<\/a> of goodwill that you’ll both continue to benefit from.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Price recommends you use your reclaimed time to pursue your passions<\/a><\/strong>, which she defines as activities or hobbies that focus your attention and leave you feeling invigorated. Not everything you love to do is a passion. For example, you may love taking baths, but this is an activity that relaxes you, not one that inspires you; therefore it doesn’t qualify as a passion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Price explains that our passions are often a great jumping-off point for True Fun because they lend themselves to opportunities for playfulness, connection, and flow. Passions are playful because they’re voluntary and pursued for their own sake. They also often lead you to meet new people and make new connections, and they facilitate building skills and knowledge that allow you to experience flow<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you’ve lost touch with what you\u2019re passionate about, Price offers some guiding questions to help you get started:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Price recommends you brainstorm as many ideas as possible and then choose something (anything) to try. Even if it\u2019s not the right fit, you\u2019ll have learned something about yourself in the process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Price cautions that many people avoid pursuing their passions because they’re afraid of looking stupid or being bad at something. She says that if you’re trying something new, you probably will <\/em>be bad at it, but she offers the reassurance that, if you stick with it through the awkward beginner phase, you may discover a new passion (and a potential source of True Fun).<\/p>\n\n\n\n You’ll also inevitably have more fun<\/a> if you become someone who attracts fun to you<\/strong>. For many of us, when someone describes \u201ca fun person,\u201d they picture a person standing on a table in the middle of a party convincing everyone to play charades. But, what if playing charades isn\u2019t your cup of tea? According to Price, not a problem. Price explains that you don\u2019t have to be \u201cthe life of the party\u201d or even an extrovert, to be considered fun. When asked to describe someone as fun, people describe a person who makes them feel included, laughs easily, and isn\u2019t afraid to try new things or be silly. These are qualities that you can have regardless of where you fall on the introverted\/extroverted spectrum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Price identifies two ways you can become more fun: You can adopt a fun attitude, and you can create a fun environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To adopt a fun attitude, you need to practice noticing or seeking out opportunities for fun, however small. The ability to laugh at yourself, to look for the absurd in the ordinary, to smile more, to be present, and to notice unexpected and delightful moments of pleasure are all examples of ways to hone your fun radar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You can also facilitate environments that are conducive to fun (what Price refers to as \u201cplaygrounds\u201d). Fun environments are spaces where there’s an understanding that the space is meant to be fun, where everyone is 100% in, and where judgment isn’t welcome. Your fun environment might be a dinner club with friends, a virtual Dungeons & Dragons tournament, or an adult kickball league. The activity doesn\u2019t matter, as long as the space invites people to let go and be themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In her research, Price noticed an unexpected theme in many people\u2019s experiences of True Fun. She found that fun often goes hand-in-hand with breaking rules<\/strong>, however harmless. She explains that play is often about behaving outside the norms of expected behavior or social structure, which often means engaging in small acts of rebellion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But, as Price explains, to push boundaries, you need something to push against. She offers a few suggestions of opportunities to push back and suggests finding mini acts of resistance that fit your personality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You can push back against established patterns (what Price calls \u201chabits and routines\u201d). Many of us operate under a predictable schedule. You can rebel against this predictability by breaking with your normal pattern and introducing some novelty into your day. This can be as simple as changing up your regular takeout spot or taking a walk after dinner instead of turning on a TV show.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Similarly, you can push back against traditions. Traditions are a powerful tool of connection, but only when you get to choose them. Changing traditions that you don\u2019t like or that are no longer fun is a prime opportunity for rebellion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The last step of sparking more fun is committing to it. Price insists that to have fun, you have to prioritize fun\u2014not once, but over and over. She outlines several steps you can take to ensure that you continue to keep fun at the top of your priority list.<\/p>\n\n\n\n First, find your people<\/a> (what Price calls your \u201cfun squad\u201d). This is a group of people that help you have fun, either by holding you accountable to make time for fun or by having fun with you. You might already have a group of people in mind, or you might need to create one. Either way, fellow fun lovers are a key resource in your effort to prioritize fun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n (Shortform note: When it comes to forming your group of people, more isn\u2019t necessarily better. Consider how you plan on using this group. For example, if the focus is accountability, consider limiting your group to four or five people. Research suggests that groups of five or fewer are more conducive to conversation<\/a>. However, if you plan on forming a soccer team, you\u2019ll probably need a few more friends.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Next, prioritize the things in your life that tend to lead to fun (what Price calls your \u201cfun magnets\u201d). Make an effort to spend time around the people, in the places, or doing the activities that you know tend to lead to fun. The more time you spend with things or people that lead to fun, the higher the likelihood that fun will ensue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n (Shortform note: Prioritizing the things in your life that are fun will often mean saying no to things that aren’t fun or necessary (for example, being on an extra committee at work). In Essentialism<\/em><\/a>, Greg McKeown argues that saying no is an essential skill when you’re trying to refocus your time and energy on your biggest priorities<\/a>. Acknowledging that people often are uncomfortable saying no, he offers several helpful tips. First, remember you’re saying no to a proposal, not a person. Second, know that saying no to one thing allows you to say yes to something else. And third, don\u2019t put off the conversation. Be direct. People will appreciate your candor.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Price also recommends incorporating different levels of fun in your life. That means making an effort to have daily and weekly fun fixes but also prioritizing opportunities for more time-intensive experiences that leave you feeling energized and rejuvenated. For example, if you love playing in the water, you might join a weekly water aerobics class but also plan an annual rafting trip with your closest friends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n (Shortform note: Rubin makes a similar recommendation in The Happiness Project<\/em><\/a>, emphasizing that it’s possible to infuse your day with small moments of fun simply by allowing time for goofiness<\/a>. She explains that many people, consciously or unconsciously, shut down moments of goofiness or play because they feel busy or rushed. When you catch yourself sacrificing fun for efficiency, she recommends asking \u201cDoes this need to be done now?\u201d and \u201cCan we spare time to be goofy?\u201d If you can, then do it. You, and everyone around you, will have more fun as a result.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n These bigger experiences often require a bigger financial and time commitment. Price explains that prioritizing fun sometimes requires an investment, but she emphasizes that investing in experiences<\/a> (instead of stuff) will have a bigger impact on your happiness.<\/p>\n\n\n\nHow to Have Fun in Life<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
#1: Make Time<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
#2: Find Your Passions <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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#3: Invite Fun<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
#4: Push Boundaries<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
#5: Stay Committed<\/h3>\n\n\n\n