Fun Is Serious Business

“And for our icebreaker, tell us something you like to do for fun.”

“Not bad as far as icebreakers go,” I thought while sitting in a board meeting recently. I heard folks share things like cooking; puzzling while keeping the cell phone off (operating on hard mode); playing guitar with friends; listening to ’80s yacht rock or house music; reading fantasy novels (if you know, you know); gardening; running (also plodding, jogging or running/walking); swimming; and traveling.

My thoughts drifted, and I thought about what my friends are up to. I know people who fish, whether for trout with flies, out in the Gulf Stream for tuna, or in local waters for catfish; make things, whether in the wood shop or by painting, throwing pots, drawing or making jewelry. I also know people who color in adult coloring books; play Sudoku or work crossword puzzles; paint rocks and leave them for others to find in parks; visit food festivals, local breweries or distilleries, or other foodie must-dos.

Other people I know go thrift shopping, antiquing or shop estate sales; sing, whether as part of a chorus, in church, at karaoke or by rocking out in the car solo; play in a musical group, from friends jamming in the bonus room to playing in an orchestra. Other people take classes in a new artistic medium, thereby adding to their tech skills, or even pursue a new degree (Divinity School seems popular these days).

Others train for and travel for races, be they 5Ks or 50-mile ultras; write poetry, novels, essays, blogs and podcast scripts; are patrons of the arts by attending film screenings, art exhibits, comedy shows or live music; perform in stand-up or improv comedy, in a Shakespeare troupe or other theater; work with fiber arts (sewing, quilting, cross stitching, needlepointing, crocheting and knitting are always popular); and, of course, play sports, including hockey, basketball, kickball, soccer, bowling, golf, pickleball, handball, outrigger canoe races, rowing crew, ballroom dancing, horseback riding, hiking the AT or the Mountain to Sea Trail.

Is your hobby in those lists? Do you have a hobby? Do you make time for it regularly? When was the last time you had fun?

If you can’t remember, it’s time to pencil in some time for fun, and while you’re at it, make it a habit. Don’t worry, scheduling fun does not mean you won’t enjoy yourself. It just means that like other important meetings on your calendar, you will give it the time and attention it deserves.

While happiness is a state of mind, an abstract thing we pursue while “constantly asking yourself what is going right and wrong,” having fun is “relatively easy to achieve,” according to psychologist Mike Rucker, author of The Fun Habit: How the Disciplined Pursuit of Joy and Wonder Can Change Your Life.“Fun is something you can do. It doesn’t require education, money or power. All it requires is intentionality. If happiness is a mirage, fun is your backyard oasis.” Rucker’s loose definition of fun is that it generally involves doing something active and intentional (not mindlessly watching TV or scrolling), often includes other people, is something you choose for yourself and can give a thrill that transcends the ordinary. It’s “whatever tickles your sense of delight.”

Remember the feeling of pumping your legs extra hard and rising up so high on a swing that you lift from the seat? How about the satisfaction of finding that missing piece for a dark corner of a puzzle? The joy you get from receiving a perfectly timed pass and sinking a layup? The way you absolutely master the drum solo while listening to Phil Collins “In the Air Tonight” in the car?

Don’t get so bogged down in the slog of the daily routine, the drudgery of the musts, that you forget to make time for what makes life enjoyable. Turn down the volume on the voices that say “You need to be productive” and “This time isn’t billable” or “You have clients to worry about/a practice to run/children who need you/elders who need you?” if only for a little while. You can turn that knob up later. In the meantime, dial up the fun.

Why? Because fun is good for you. “Evidence from psychology, neuroscience, and well-being research suggests that reconnecting with playfulness can support emotional balance, ease bodily tensions, and strengthen social connection.” It reduces stress, improves your mood, and strengthens mental resilience. Laughter and play and enjoyable activities stimulate the release of endorphins, dopamine and serotonin, the “feel good” chemicals it seems like we are always hearing about, but those chemicals do more than make you feel happy: they can lower blood pressure, improve immune function and even relieve pain. All of these things support your long-term physical and mental health.

You’re not just putting together the Star Wars Millennium Falcon Lego kit: you’re prioritizing your health — as you should be!