What did I learn about FUN this week?
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.)
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?
