If you ever wonder whether you could (or should) be having more fun, you’re not the only one. As children, teenagers, and even young adults, it’s normal to seek out enjoyment – and put pleasure ahead of other responsibilities. But as we get older – and particularly in today’s fast-paced, stressful world – many of us find ourselves struggling to experience regular joy.
The demands of modern life can feel overwhelming, and it can be easy to get caught up in juggling professional tasks, household chores, family commitments, and unexpected errands. Even if trying to prioritise having more fun, it can sometimes feel like we simply don’t have time.
But new research suggests that having fun is just as important for physical and mental health as getting enough sleep, eating well, and exercising. One study showed that participants who engaged in multiple enjoyable activities reported lower blood pressure, cortisol levels, waist circumference, and BMI, as well as lower levels of depression.
Further research shows that positive emotions enhance the immune system, while other studies convincingly suggest that joyful people live longer. But accepting that we should be having more fun is just the first step. The second is knowing how to actually have it.
Depending on where we are in our lives, it can be difficult to remember what enjoyment actually looks like. People who’ve experienced depression, for example, can struggle to recall the ways in which they used to have fun – and even if they do remember, recapuring that joy can seem impossible. For others, the stressful and sometimes painful demands of life can mean we simply forget to have fun.
So, if you’re looking to bring more fun into your life, here are nine ways you might be able to find it.
1. Think about what used to be fun
Young people often chase enjoyment, and may prioritise having fun over anything else. But as we age – particularly if we have kids of our own – we may find we don’t have time for ‘fun’ activities anymore, whether that’s painting, running, hiking, or going to the cinema. And by the time the kids have grown up and flown the nest, sometimes we’ve forgotten which activities brought us the most joy. Or think too much time has passed to get stuck back in.
But these hobbies and passions are a huge part of who we are, and even if they’ve been lost along the way, that doesn’t mean they can’t still bring us joy. Think about the activities you enjoyed as a child. Did you like doing puzzles or making cards? Maybe it was riding your bike, or going to the seaside and diving in the waves. Doing these activities as an adult can still make you happy – and it may also bring back all those feelings of fun and freedom.
2. Seek out laughter
They say laughter is the best medicine – and it’s scientifically proven to be a good source of stress relief. In the long-term, there’s also evidence that laughter can improve your immune system, relieve pain, and boost your mood, and even benefit the heart and circulatory system. And, while laughing doesn’t always mean you’re having fun, it usually does – so try to seek out laughter in your life.
Take a few moments to think about when you laugh most. Is it when you’re with friends? Perhaps it’s watching funny films, TV shows, or stand-up comedy. In the book The Power of Fun: How to Feel Alive Again, author Catherine Price warns that scrolling through social media is often a form of ‘fake fun’ – but if you know you find certain Facebook pages or funny memes amusing, there’s nothing wrong with checking them out, or asking friends and family to send you content they think you’ll enjoy.
3. Try things your friends find fun
We tend to hang around with people who share interests with us, so it can be a good idea to join in with the activities your friends enjoy. Even if you’re convinced these activities aren’t for you, it doesn’t hurt to try – and getting out of your comfort zone is a good way to build confidence. Plus, spending more time with your friends will probably be enjoyable, no matter what you’re doing.
If you have a friend who sings in a choir, why not ask if you can come along? Have a friend who enjoys going to a language class? Perhaps you could see if you can enrol too. Not only is this also a great confidence booster, but it also has many benefits for the brain. Plus, it gives you an excuse to travel.
Try to keep an open mind and an adventurous spirit. While it’s important to have boundaries, and be comfortable saying ‘no’, it can also be helpful to be open to spontaneity. Often it’s the unplanned experiences that bring the most fun to our lives, so try accepting invitations to impromptu events, parties, or getaways. If a coworker asks you to go salsa dancing after work, why not say yes? And if a friend wants you to go hiking with them on the weekend, why not go?
4. Practice gratitude
Many would agree that positive people who count their blessings usually have much more fun than those who like to complain. If you know someone who’s always grumbling about their life, think about how much fun they have. Chances are, it’s not a lot.
One of the best ways to feel positive is by practising gratitude. Gratitude is a form of optimism that trains the mind to be thankful for the things we have, rather than focusing on what’s missing. Practitioners of gratitude tend to view their glass as half full, not half empty, and this positive mindset can make it easier to find enjoyment in life.
Plus, gratitude has many other benefits. It can strengthen relationships, increase resilience, improve sleep, boost confidence, and reduce stress and anxiety – all things which can help us feel happier. Gratitude can make our worst days seem more positive, and our good days feel even greater, and it’s something that’s incredibly easy to incorporate into our day.
To find out more, you might want to read our article, How practising gratitude can lead to a happier life.
5. Practice mindfulness
There’s a growing body of research that suggests you can find lasting happiness by focusing on the present. Mindfulness is a technique that can help you turn your full attention to the present moment: what you’re thinking, what you’re feeling, and what’s happening in your immediate environment. Being able to enjoy life’s little moments and appreciating the small things can go a long way in making you feel happy.
Mindfulness allows you to lean into cherishing the moment and having fun, whether it’s savouring a cup of coffee in the morning or enjoying watching the sunset. This emphasis on the present helps you nurture a sense of contentment and tap into sustainable sources of happiness.
Try practising mindfulness throughout the day and seeing whether it helps you find more enjoyment. Mindfulness also helps you improve your focus and manage your emotions, so you might find it helps you in several areas of your life.
6. Connect with friends
If you think about the most enjoyable moments in your life, there’s a good chance they’ll involve friends. Meals shared can be more enjoyable, films watched together can be more fun, and we tend to laugh harder and more frequently in the company of others.
Research shows that spending time with friends exponentially increases happiness – and, in fact, one of the longest ever psychological studies at Harvard University found that the quality of friendships was the most important predictor of happiness in the long term.
Psychologist Carl Rogers, one of the founders of humanistic psychology, even suggested that people who have good friends don’t need therapy. But despite the importance of friendships, many of us don’t prioritise them half as much as we maybe should. If this sounds familiar, why not take some time to connect with your friends, whether it’s making a call or sending a message, and make plans to get together?
If you don’t have as many friends as you like, remember that it’s never too late to make long-lasting friendships. There are many ways you can meet new people and connect with them, from joining a book club and volunteering to finding online friends and joining friendship groups.
For more ideas, you might want to read our article; 12 ways to make new friends
7. Break the script
Sometimes making small changes in our routine can lead to new, unexpected opportunities for fun. In their book The Power of Moments, authors Dan and Chip Heath explore a concept they call ‘breaking the script’ – when you turn off autopilot and do something unexpected. The idea is that, when this happens, often we’re rewarded by surprising moments and experiences that elevate our lives and make us happier.
From a cerebral perspective, new experiences stimulate your brain by providing a sense of novelty, which sparks curiosity and encourages non-linear thinking. Plus, encoding new experiences has been shown not just to boost life satisfaction, but to actively prevent cognitive decline. So, if you have a fixed routine, think about ways you can ‘break the script’ and transform ordinary moments into something more fun.
For example, if you walk to work the same way each day, try taking a different route; you might enjoy the scenery more, or stumble upon a pub advertising a live music night you’d enjoy. If you always eat at the same restaurant, try going somewhere new and discovering different dishes. If you walk past a florist every day, go in and buy yourself some flowers.
There are many different ways we can break the monotony of everyday life and have more fun. Head over to the leisure and lifestyle section of our website for more ideas about pursuing new interests and keeping your mind stimulated.
8. Set aside time for fun
One of the biggest reasons people say they don’t have fun is that they don’t have enough time for it. But if having fun is as important for our health and wellbeing as eating well, exercising, and sleeping – things many of us prioritise – then we should carve out dedicated time for enjoyment too.
Consider which activities you view as pure fun – whether it’s having lunch with a friend, going to a dance class, or walking in the countryside. Then, make time for this activity in your schedule. It can be first thing in the morning, at lunch time, after work, in the evening, or on the weekends. It doesn’t matter when you do this activity, only that you do it.
9. Consider that life is short
Thinking about the brevity of life can feel a little morbid – but accepting it can also have powerful benefits. Firstly, accepting that our lives are finite can help us live in the moment, seize every day, and feel grateful for what we have. You may place more importance on the art of living well, and intentionally invest more time and energy into the things that make you happy.
The second way thinking about our morality can help is to think about our ‘legacy’. How do you want to be remembered? What will people say about you? What do you want them to say? There are probably few people who’d want to be remembered as a workaholic, or as someone who was always cleaning their home. Most people want to be remembered as fun – people who were up for anything, didn’t take life too seriously, and were a joy to be around.
By thinking about the legacy you want to leave behind, you can make more intentional choices about how you spend your time, and fill your life with meaningful and enjoyable experiences.
Final thoughts…
Having fun is a key component of a healthy, happy life, yet many of us don’t have enough of it.
While we might not always have the time or money to invest in big moments of fun, like trips or holidays, there are many ways we can embrace the little things.
Trying new activities, seeking out laughter, and breaking the script can all bring more joy to life, while practising mindfulness and gratitude are excellent long-term ways to live a happier, more intentional life.
Just as we set time aside for work, health, and sleep, so we should set aside time for fun. So once you know what you find fun, why not schedule it? And once you’ve done that, why not ask a friend to come along with you? After all, shared experiences can be even more fun.
Do you feel you have enough fun in your life? Are there any activities you find particularly enjoyable? We’d love to hear about your experiences in the comments below.