1. It's not as easy as it looks. I discovered the things I thought were fun (video games, watching Bones, etc), didn't actually make me feel better after the activity. In many cases I even felt worse--like a slug. This could be because, like Lays potato chips, you can't "eat" just one. One episode turned into several. A few minutes of gaming turned into hours. Etc.
2. (In direct opposition to 1) It's easy to over-complicate. If I wasn't trying enough I found I was trying too hard. If video games weren't making me feel good I was looking for something deep and meaningful--like reconnecting with my childhood or fulfilling some grand life goal. Those days usually ended in disappointment as I didn't have the time or resources to bring to pass colossal events of life changing proportions. I know... breathe... right?
3. More is better. Enough said. I don't make enough time to enjoy life, I'm too busy planning and organizing it--the downside of my too-practical nature.
4. Having it with others is better than having it alone. I have more fun with friends/family than I do alone. Whether it's because I feel the need to be entertaining in groups or because their presence re-energizes my batteries (perhaps both), being with other people helps me to loosen up and enjoy myself. When I'm on my own I tend to "open one more door," which is hubby code for doing one more chore which leads to many other chores before I'll sit down and relax.
(Oddly, the same 4 points could be applied to sex.)
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In the end I think it comes down to carving out time to do the things I love--like sewing, photography, chalk art and puzzles (which strangely enough also fulfill my POWER need)--and not trying to make every day a bucket-list-of-epic-proportions day.
What about you? Any tips for incorporating fun into our daily lives? What helps you to relax and enjoy yourself?
Such a cute post! Music is like the only other thing that resonates deeply with me apart from books. I sing my heart out to relax and that really helps. According to some theories in science everything is just music(vibrating atoms)!
ReplyDeleteI believe we can incorporate fun into our lives only if we do what we love. Pursuing your passion as your profession is the key in my opinion :)
This week was the perfect week to assign fun. With the boys out if school I've been trying to have some fun with them. It has been fun, but also a lot of work. Plus I did still have to get "adult" things done like laundry, grocery shopping, dishes, etc. so I've decided that it is hard to have fun! BUT I also feel like it's been worth it.
ReplyDeleteHmmm... Just like sex. *tee hee* you're so funny!
Ah Debbie - you crack me up =) So glad I'm not the only one whose mind wanders... well, you-know-where!.
ReplyDeleteI often find I'm having the most fun when I do something totally silly and spontaneous. Like take a picture of myself making a goofy face and txt it to my brother, or have totally random conversations with my roommates (like which one of us are most likely to be a hallucination).
Having just had my boys home on spring break it was reaffirmed that we often have the most fun as a family when we're being creatively productive. We've been digging some drainage areas into our landscape and the boys had new shovels and rakes to help. We found lots of worms/grubs/bugs to feed to our chickens, which made us all laugh, and we got a lot done as well! :)
ReplyDeleteOf course, getting away from home where we can give 100% attention to the boys is great as well. We did that several times, and my oldest learned to ride his bike without training wheels! But I can't do that sort of thing for more than an hour or so at a time before I start worrying about all that *needs* to get done. I struggle with that sort of fun a little more than the productive kind. Working on it!