It’s Time to Take Fun Seriously!

According to science journalist Catherine Price, we’ve been taking fun too lightly.

Seriously, when’s the last time you had fun? Real fun, true fun, the sort of fun that makes you reel from laughter yet feel straight-up alive? When your heart feels open and your head feels clear and energy pulses from fingers to toes?

If you have to think about it, it’s been far too long!

The past few years have been difficult, yes. In times of stress and hardship, fun is often the first casualty. It’s the serious pursuit of staying alive that take priority, when it’s fun that reminds us why we’re alive.

Seniors are also subject to the bizarre notion that we’ve gotten “too old” to have fun. That our fun days—and nights—are behind us, and we should simply accept our latter years as being fun-free. Which, according to journalist Price, is seriously wrong-headed!

Price wrote an entire book, “The Power of Fun—How to Feel Alive Again,” that’s an ode to fun. She describes the human need for fun, the real benefits of fun, and how to know we’re really having fun. She’s an expert on fun and here are the highlights!

First, what exactly is “true fun”?
True fun is any activity during which we feel lighthearted, exhilarated and fully engaged. While we’re having true fun, we feel free in our bodies and minds. We feel connected, to ourselves and the world. We feel alive. And after we’ve had true fun, we feel energized, nourished and refreshed. Does a steady diet of Netflix and chilling do that? Not so much.

How do we know we’re having true fun?
We feel it in our bodies. Here’s the test: Does the thought of a Napa winery tour light up your brain and fill your stomach with fluttery butterflies? That’s your body saying “Yes! Let’s do that!”

If, on the other hand, the idea of a karaoke contest makes your throat clench and your lungs tighten, it’s not for you. Pay close attention and heed what your body tells you.

True fun is always a laughing matter.
Are we laughing? Really laughing? Then we’re absolutely  having true fun.

Fun happens more often if we actively seek it out.

True fun can just happen, yes. It happens more often when we make it happen.

True fun does not require big money.
According to Price’s study, the pursuit of true fun can, in fact, save money. Because once we realize that material possessions do not equal fun, we buy less stuff.

The pursuit of fun is not frivolous.
Having true fun doesn’t take away from material success, worldly achievement and self-improvement. Au contraire: fun helps us achieve these goals by increasing our physical energy and mental motivation.

True fun is neither self-indulgent nor self-centered.
Quite the opposite! Sharing true fun builds community by creating connection and lessening resentment. It’s very difficult to dislike someone when you’re both rolling on the floor laughing.

True fun improves every area of your life.
Author Price was surprised to find that the more she prioritized fun, the more she flourished in every area of her life. That’s a finding we can all get behind!

In summation, fun is scientifically proven to be a serious business. So let’s get more serious about having more fun, starting today!