{"id":251003,"date":"2024-08-04T01:47:59","date_gmt":"2024-08-04T01:47:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/michigandigitalnews.com\/index.php\/2024\/08\/04\/wondering-how-to-have-fun-meet-your-ultimate-guide\/"},"modified":"2025-06-25T17:13:13","modified_gmt":"2025-06-25T17:13:13","slug":"wondering-how-to-have-fun-meet-your-ultimate-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/michigandigitalnews.com\/index.php\/2024\/08\/04\/wondering-how-to-have-fun-meet-your-ultimate-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"Wondering How to Have Fun? Meet Your Ultimate Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"

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I\u2019m sure it says something <\/em>about my personality that for the last three years, one of my New Year\u2019s resolutions<\/a> has been to \u201chave more fun.\u201d Okay, not simply to have more fun\u2026 <\/em>but to learn<\/em> how to have fun. As a classic Enneagram 3<\/a>, my intense work ethic can sometimes be at odds with my <\/em>ultimate goal of living life to the fullest. So, every January 1 when I journal about how I want the next year<\/a> to look, I inevitably write some version of the following: \u201cMore joy, more laughter, more play.\u201d <\/p>\n

In the scheme of things, the start of 2024 is far behind us. We\u2019ve flown through winter, the spring, and now find ourselves on the precipice of fall. It\u2019s arguably the best time of the year\u2014there\u2019s hope and the promise of warmer, brighter days ahead. But oftentimes, with the excitement of our resolutions months behind us, our momentum slows. And recapturing the same motivation we once felt can seem impossible.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve always skewed more serious. When I\u2019m in the zone with a goal in mind, it\u2019s hard for me to see outside my carefully-crafted plan of action. But to be more carefree, I know that breaking that script is exactly what I need to feel more joy in my everyday experience. When I\u2019m on a long hike or at the beach, I easily flow into a headspace that\u2019s more about enjoying life instead of checking things off my to-do list. And yes, the beauty of nature<\/a> tends to awaken that spirit in many of us. But I also think that it has something to do with the fact that an interruption in the flow of life makes us feel more alive.<\/p>\n

\"Camille<\/figure>\n

How to Have Fun in Life, Starting Today<\/h2>\n

I started 2024 by downloading a book that\u2019s appropriately titled The Power of Fun: How to Feel Alive Again<\/a>. <\/em>The author, Catherine Price (who also wrote this other favorite<\/a>) starts by breaking down her definition of \u201ctrue fun.\u201d Turns out, many of the things that we might think<\/em> are fun are, upon further examination, not that satisfying after all. She classifies things like binge-watching shows and scrolling through social media as \u201cfake fun.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\u201cFake Fun is numbing and leaves us empty when we\u2019re done. True Fun makes us feel nourished and refreshed.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

I believe that even when there are serious things happening in the world around us, we can express empathy and compassion while also welcoming play and laughter into our days. Inspired by my readings and my experiences, this is how I\u2019m learning to have fun in the small, everyday moments that bring wonder and excitement to my life.<\/p>\n

\"Woman<\/figure>\n

Fun Is a Mindset<\/h2>\n

Let\u2019s use an example that most of us encounter every day: making dinner<\/a>. There are two women making the exact same dinner on a Tuesday night. Let\u2019s say, lasagna. One of them is halfway paying attention to what she\u2019s doing as she mulls over an issue at work that day while cursing herself for choosing a recipe that requires multiple layers of noodles\/cheese\/sauce because she still has lunches to pack and emails to answer and\u2026 this is all just a little too much for a Tuesday. <\/p>\n

The other woman? She\u2019s barefoot in the kitchen with the music turned up, savoring the experience of doing one of her favorite things. Maybe she recruits a family member to help her layer. Maybe she pours a glass of wine and savors the feeling of doing one of her favorite things on a Tuesday night. Same circumstance, a totally different experience.<\/p>\n

Or think about the simple act of having a conversation, something we do all the time, with strangers, family, and friends. What differentiates a boring conversation from one that counts as \u201cbanter,\u201d or even, flirting? <\/em>It\u2019s all in how we choose to see it.<\/p>\n

\"Women<\/figure>\n

True Fun Is Playfulness, Connection, and Flow<\/h2>\n

In her book, Price names three qualities that must be present to experience True Fun in our lives: playfulness, connection, and flow. Playfulness is that spirit of lightheartedness and freedom, where you\u2019re not thinking so much about everyday responsibilities but instead fully engaged in whatever you\u2019re doing.<\/p>\n

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\u201cWhen people are being playful, they sparkle.\u201d <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Connection is about having a shared experience with another person or thing. It could be a connection to nature, an activity you love (like drawing), an animal, or another person. It happens when a person \u201cjoins together with someone while at the same time feeling totally themselves.\u201d<\/p>\n

And \u201cflow\u201d is a term<\/a> that describes the feeling of being engaged in your present experience to the point that you lose track of time. It\u2019s that feeling of getting lost in whatever you\u2019re doing\u2014because it engages every part of your being.<\/p>\n

If my goal is to have more fun, I can seek out experiences that include all three of these qualities, or look for ways to infuse more of each of them into my day-to-day life. When playfulness, connection, <\/em>and flow <\/em>are present, we get the magic of true fun.<\/p>\n

\"Megan<\/figure>\n

Embrace the Idea of Unconditional Fun<\/h2>\n

My definition of unconditional fun is this: you don\u2019t need to wait until things are a certain way to be having fun. <\/strong>It\u2019s not dependent on what\u2019s happening around us. Rather, it\u2019s an internal energy shift\u2014a way of moving through the world that\u2019s not so dependent on external circumstances. Picture that person who seems like they\u2019re always having a blast. (Drew Barrymore<\/a>, anyone?) Magnetic, right? I\u2019ve been looking for those small moments of delight that can be found even on an imperfect day. When I\u2019m paying careful, mindful attention, everything comes to life.<\/p>\n

\"Woman<\/figure>\n

Have More Fun by Breaking the Script<\/h2>\n

A couple of years ago, I read and loved a book called The Power of Moments<\/a><\/em>. It\u2019s all about how we can create more memories and extraordinary moments in our lives. One of the biggest takeaways for me was a concept called \u201cbreaking the script.\u201d The idea is that by doing something unexpected, we turn off our autopilot and transform routine moments into something more fun. <\/p>\n

\u201cBreak the Script\u201d Moments I\u2019ve Been Embracing Lately:<\/h3>\n