What’s the last fun thing you did? How long ago was it? As we round out the summer of the (worst) weirdest year ever, there is still time for some fun! They say laughter is the best medicine, and it is a fact that happiness can increase your immunity. It’s important to have fun year round, but there seem to be more options when the weather is nicer for most of our country. As I’ve said before, as this pandemic drags on and on, it becomes even more important to stay engaged and happy. If you can’t change the circumstances, you can at least change your mood. Everyone’s definition of fun will be different, so find something to do that lifts your spirits.
As I’ve been researching facts about happiness this month, there are many that seem tied to what we define as being healthy- getting enough sleep, eating fruits and vegetables, exercise, meditation, spending time in nature, and continued learning. But there are just as many that tie into having fun and being creative- watching funny videos, looking at old photos, singing, smelling flowers, writing, baking, creating art, and living in the moment. So having fun is clearly going to boost your happiness. I spent an hour playing with my dog, Blue, and his favorite orange ball while sitting in the shade of a tree in my yard on a clear, sunny day. I forgot about everything going on in the world and just focused on all the fun we were having in that moment. It didn’t cost me anything. I didn’t have to leave home, and I had so much fun. It was just what I needed that day to boost up my happiness. Can you add a little fun to your day today?
Finding your purpose is also tied to your happiness. To find your purpose ask yourself questions like- What excites me? What do I love doing? How do I want to be remembered? Too often people think their purpose in life has to be their career, which can lead to a lot of unhappiness. There are a lot of things we can enjoy and get excited about that wouldn’t be a good fit for a career. While having a career that does connect with your life purpose can be the best case scenario, it’s too limiting to believe that you must have a career that expresses your life purpose to find happiness. Where can you find ways to make your job excite you more? Can you connect with people at work on a deeper level? Can you raise money for others at work? Can you plan events at work that are fun? Even if you can’t find anyway to bring more fun to work, you still have all your time outside of your job to prioritize some fun.
Even helping others in the smallest way – a compliment, a small donation, helping someone with a chore, will bring you more happiness. And it’s even proven that happiness is contagious. So if you are the “happy one” at work or in your family, the people around you are over 15% more likely to be happy too. So your prescription during these trying times is to add some fun and kindness to your life to boost your happiness and the happiness of others. We could all use a little happiness herd immunity right now! And of course, please wash your hands, wear a mask, and social distance! Happy, healthy wishes to you all!
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