Word-Of-the-Week #906: FUN!

December 16, 2021 by  

FUN – a source of enjoyment, amusement, or pleasure.

When was the last time you felt enjoyment? Or did something that brought you pleasure?

This week’s WOW comes from the Sunday Parade Magazine “A recipe for MORE FUN,” by Dillon Dodson.

“Sometimes what’s supposed to be the jolliest time of the year turns into a mad rush that’s not so fun. Science journalist Catherine Price, author of “The Power of Fun: How to Feel Alive Again,” has the antidote for that: Put down your attention-seeking phones, apps and other media and focus on real fun, what she calls ‘the confluence of playfulness, connections and flow.’ Here’s her advice for finding more ‘true fun’ in your daily life.

  • GET MOVING – Physical movement and/or being outdoors contribute to fun, Price’s research confirms. Try activities such as biking or swing dancing or even cleaning the house to your favorite music. Or simply take a walk outside and breathe some fresh air.
  • LOOK FOR JOY – Take note of what makes you happy. ‘Calling out those tiny moments and giving them weight really boost my mood. I encourage people to keep a journal to note those moments throughout your day,” Price says. 

  • CONNECT – COVID-induced quarantine has increase feelings of isolation, but (safe) human connection will always be important. ‘In my own research, when people described past experiences of true fun, the vast majority involved other people, even for self-described introverts,’ she says. 
  • AND DISCONNECT – She calls binge-watching and social media interaction ‘fake fun.’ Those activities ‘are designed to be very compelling and make you want to consume ii in excess, but it makes you feel worse afterwards.’ Recognize fake fun and start to replace it with real-life interactions or other more tangible things that give you joy.
  • DECOUPLE MONEY FROM TIME – ‘We’ve been conditioned to believe that any use of time that does not result in being financially compensated is not good.’ But when expensive products are marketed to us as enjoyable, how much more do we work to pay for them? ‘Fun actually boosts our productivity because it lets us take a break. It’s much more restorative than other things we do with our leisure time. But it should be its own reward.’

This week’s focus is to have FUN! When was the last time you were out experiencing nature?  Do you know what brings you true joy? Are you addicted to your devices?  I play golf twice a week and I can’t believe people who have their phones with them. Seriously! You’ll never play your best game if you’re distracted.

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