Recently I wrote this article about how most adults have forgotten how to have fun. At the risk of sounding flippant, I’d say it’s reached the proportions of a pandemic… Luckily one has an easy fix, ready at your fingertips: choose one or two of these 25+ simple ways to have fun. Or better yet, work your way down the list and do them all!
- Catch a sunrise or a sunset.
- Play a board game.
- Take a walk around your neighborhood. (This can be especially magical at night, depending on your neighborhood).
- Find a new hobby. (Personally, I am enamored with knitting and crochet. How cool it is that you can make clothes out of string?)
- Watch clouds and discover spectacular shapes. Among the best I’ve discovered: phoenix, angels, hearts, and dragons.
- Explore a new place.
- Have a picnic. (if the weather doesn’t cooperate, you can always have it in your living room by candlelight.)
- Have a dance party in your living room. Even if it’s a party of one, it’s still fun. check out these playlists if you’re looking for inspiration.
- Stretch. Even if you think this idea is a little bit strange, your body will thank you for it. Stretching helps maintain your range of movement, which prevents injuries.
- Call a friend. Remember when that was something people did?
- Play catch with a friend or loved one. Remember how many hours you did this as a kid?
- Take a class for fun. Any class. As long as it’s something you’re doing because it sounds fun.
- Jump on a trampoline, hula a hula hoop, or dust off your rollerskates.
- Have a tea party. Invite some friends over and bake something delicious to share.
- S t a r g a z e.
- Walk or run barefoot in the grass.
- Float in a pool or the ocean.
- Write a letter to someone you love. Extra points for decorating the envelope.
- Put on some music and color some coloring pages. Download my Zen Coloring Pages HERE and color color yourself calm. (They make great birthday cards, BTW).
- Sing along to your favorite songs. (Singing stimulates the vagus nerve, the longest nerve in your body, which resets your nervous system to rest and digest).
- Read some thing just for fun. Or gather a group and read aloud to each other.
- Build a fort or cozy nook. Make it a spot where you can lie down, rest, and feel like a kid again.
- Try something new. Do you have a list of things you would do if you had more time? Pick one and do it!
- Climb a tree. Or lie in the grass.
- Close your eyes and dream.
Other, slightly wackier ways to have fun:
- Try your hand at a game of Human Croquet.
- Call your local theater to see if they take volunteer ushers. Many theaters give free tickets to volunteers who either seat guests or clean up post-performance.
- Celebrate random holidays. (National S’mores Day, anyone?) Chances are, there’s a holiday you never knew existed that is happening right now.
- Draw on your mirrors and sliding glass doors with dry erase markers. Leave messages for each other. Or riddles.
- Blow bubbles.
- Wear glitter. It’s really hard to be grumpy if you’re wearing glitter.
I love everything here. But the letter writing. So wonderful. I am so glad that I saved so many letters. I realize, I wouldn’t have so many had I, myself, not written. I want to get back to that! Such great ideas here! Thank you.
I’m hoping we can revive the art of letter-writing. It’s such a lovely way to communicate. Each time I receive a letter it feels like opening a gift.