I was in my eye doctor’s office many years ago and he asked me what I do for fun. He said that he asks everyone to see how they use his eyes.
We had an intense conversation about how I feel like a lot of people just don’t have fun anymore. It seems that once people reach adulthood, we forget how or don’t even know what we think is fun.
Often people get up, go to a job they hate, come home, cook dinner, and watch TV before they go to bed, just do it again the next day. And don’t get me started on how people waste their entire weekends doing housework and catching up on errands.
The human race is bored!
My doctor told me a story about a time when he asked one of his clients what she did for fun and she burst into tears. She admitted to him that she no longer has fun. She’s a wife, a mother, and a worker, and she forgot how much fun she is.
Unfortunately, many of us are like this woman. We catch up with the kids, the house, work, chores, parents, the dog, life, and we forget about having fun.
I make sure to have a little fun every weekend. It can be as simple as walking the dog with friends, exercising, or doing something new you’ve never done before. I go back to work refreshed when I have fun on my weekend. I am a better wife, worker and person.
Here are nine ways to add fun to your life:
1. Daydream.
Daydreaming gets a bad rap, but in fact, daydreaming is your mind’s way of sending a message to your soul. If you daydream in a positive way, you will be amazed at how creative your mind can be and what secrets it will tell you.
Take a few minutes each day to sit and be quiet and let your mind wander. Daydream about the kind of life you would like to have. Everything is possible in dreams, so let yourself go and don’t hold back.
2. Design your “perfect” twin.
Often we can’t imagine stepping out of our comfort zone and doing something new and different. We are so caught up in what we know that we cannot let go of what we think we are.
Many years ago I gave a workshop and asked the participants to create their perfect “twin”. I asked them to invent another me that they wanted to be. This exercise freed people; he gave them permission to be whoever they wanted because he took the focus off of them.
3. Write your own obituary.
Granted, this may sound pretty morbid, but this can have an eye-opening effect. Imagine you are at her own funeral with all your friends, colleagues and family gathered. What would you like them to say about you?
“Her house was always clean.”
“He was a workaholic.”
Or would you rather hear things like “She was a lot of fun, up for anything” or “She didn’t take life too seriously and was always having a good time no matter what she was doing”?
4. Create a vision board.
Still don’t know what amuses you? Try making a vision board.
Take a poster board and grab some old magazines, scissors, and glue. Flip through the magazines and cut out pictures and phrases that move you or have meaning to you.
Once you’ve cut them out, glue them to the cardstock. See a theme? What does the board tell you?
5. Get rid of limiting beliefs.
What we tell ourselves becomes our reality. If we think we can’t do something, then we can’t or won’t even try.
For example, let’s say someone suggests skiing as something you might enjoy. If you tell yourself you’ll never be able to balance on skis, you probably won’t even try to ski.
Stop reinforcing these limiting beliefs and start telling yourself that you can do it.
6. Give yourself permission.
Many people don’t give themselves permission to have fun because they think it will take away their responsibilities.
Life is meant to be fun. What kid doesn’t love to see his mom or dad having fun, especially if he’s with them?
Yes, we all have things we are responsible for (kids, parents, home, work), but we must remember to add fun and give ourselves permission to have it. You will be a better person for it.
7. Observe others.
Sometimes I like to see other people who seem to be having fun. Sometimes I can be too serious, and when I feel like I can’t relax, I look to other people who can.
I had a gym teacher who was a lot of fun. Everyone loved her and she looked so comfortable in her skin and like she was having fun all the time.
What did I notice? She laughed at herself all the time, she found the positive in everything and she really appreciated the good things in her life.
Unbeknownst to her, she taught me how to have fun just being herself.
8. Count your blessings.
People who count their blessings instead of complaining about their problems naturally have more fun.
Think about the people you know who are always complaining and complaining about their life. How much fun do you think they have? Would they even know how to have fun if it bit them on the nose?
Start a gratitude journal and see how much more fun life can become without much effort.
9. Stop being a perfectionist.
Many years ago I met a woman who loved to knit but wouldn’t show anyone her pieces because she thought they weren’t good enough. In fact, years before she stopped knitting because she thought she wasn’t good at it.
