Have more fun, IT'S GOOD FOR YOU!

Feeling stressed out? All the more reason to let your hair down

Fun. It’s not usually a word grown-ups think refers to them. It’s for kids in the playground and dogs that chase their tails, not for those of us wrestling with financial and family worries. Yet in light of the news most of us feel unsatisfied with life compared to how we did in 2020*, an injection of fun could be just what we need.

‘The responsibilities of adulthood derail us from creating more fun in our lives, but we must cultivate it – our well-being depends on it,’ says clinical psychologist Dr Marsha Chinichian**. So, rather than seeing fun as a treat you have to earn, look at it as a necessity. Anything that relieves stress, or enables you to manage your anxiety, will serve you well. ‘Fun needs to be embraced, without guilt, and prioritised into daily routines,’ adds Dr Chinichian. Read on to find out how.

RELEASE YOUR INNER CHILD

Too long since you were carefree? It’s never too late to get the feeling back

Fun, in essence, is about letting go. It’s about living in the moment and focusing on people, places or activities that make us happy. In her book, The Power of Fun***, Catherine Price describes fun as ‘the confluence of playfulness, connection and flow’, meaning that when we’re carefree, connected to someone or something (such as a pet, hobby or environment), and living in the present, it’s then that we experience ‘true fun’. Sounds wonderful, but isn’t it a bit, you know, selfish?