We live in a work-oriented society. Americans seem to work, work, work, from early in the morning till late at night. They are exhausted, stressed, and have little time for family and friends. Most importantly, they don’t make much time for play and recreation.
Sure, many hardworking people schedule in intense vacation time for some extreme R & R. But what happened to daily doses of fun? I believe it is crucial to our mental health to build fun into our daily lives, not just some concentrated relaxation after the stress level has become unbearable.
Daily Dose of Fun:
1) Make sure you have some fun friends. Call a funny friend and laugh your head off a few times a week.
2) Build adventure into your life. Next time you go to the grocery store, speak to strangers. Smile, say something irreverent.
3) Make some trouble. The last time I was at a fancy restaurant, I burned the raffia that had tied my napkin so beautifully. It burned much quicker than I anticipated, and it was FUN. I was tempted to pour some salt into the fire to see the sparks, but I behaved. It might have been more fun if I didn’t worry about what people thought. I am not saying that you should cause damage, just a little mischief.
4) Do something crazy. Did you have a childhood talent that fell by the wayside? Dust it off and do it again. I can stand on my head, and when I do, it gives me a rush of adrenaline and reconnects me to my youth.
5) Buy something silly. Get a toy, something goofy and have fun. I remember buying jacks many years ago and trying to remember how to play.
6) Hang out with some little kids. I always laugh when I am with small children. My nieces and nephews crack me up and I crack them up. It’s a crack up love fest.
What do you do to have fun?
