We all have fun in our lives but not all of us have it the same way. What do you do for fun and are you aware of how important it is to experience activities that you define as fun??? Fun is defined as something you do for entertainment or enjoyment. Research studies suggest that people who have fun live longer lives, have fewer medical issues, and healthier relationships. Steven Covey, best-selling author of “The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People” recently died from complications of a bike accident at age 79. He left behind his wife, nine children, and fifty-two grandchildren and an incredibly fun and positive spirit. I had the pleasure of seeing him speak a few years ago. He spoke dynamically and had the audience of 3,500 therapists from around the world laughing! This was a man who knew the importance of fun.
So, what do you do for fun and how can you put more of it into your life starting right now?? Check this list and see how many of the activities you engage in on a regular basis:
Ride roller coasters, watch you tube videos that make you laugh, attend concerts, sporting events, or theater, play video games, play board games, have sex, eat your favorite foods, sing, dance, work out, watch the sun rise or sun set, watch your children laugh, watch birds, travel/sightsee, watch TV, flirt, shop, gamble, drink alcohol, go for a walk, attend a special event at your church/temple, pamper yourself with a massage, manicure, pedicure or facial, hunt, spend time with family and friends, knit, paint, draw, sculpt, smoke cigars, challenge yourself with marathons/triathalons/tough mudder events, pursue further education, eat ice cream, go to museums, and entertain others.
While this list is diverse, it is certainly not comprehensive. Nor is my suggestion to do everything on this list. Instead, my suggestion is to see if there is anything on there that you are interested in doing, and then go do it. The saying, ‘everything in moderation’ applies here. Too much of some of the activities listed above could pose a problem for some people, such as too much drinking. But too much bird watching will likely be okay. Furthermore, if you see something you have never tried but always wanted to try, remember the more fun you have in your life, the healthier you will be.
For those of you who say you are too busy for fun, you are cheating yourself and those around you. Make the time for fun and watch your level of productivity increase, almost immediately. We are all busy but at the end of life, people don’t often wish they would have worked more, they typically wish they would have spent more time with family and friends. I don’t know that Steven Covey would have any regrets but I imagine he would have loved more time for FUN with his family and friends.